Manica-Cattani Maria Fernanda, Mânica da Cruz Ivana Beatrice, Sato-Miyata Yukiko, Trindade Lucas Siqueira, Rogalski Felipe, Ribeiro Euler Esteves, Tsuda Manabu, Aigaki Toshiro
Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
PLoS One. 2025 Jul 31;20(7):e0328985. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0328985. eCollection 2025.
The seeds of the Amazonian fruit, guarana (Paullinia cupana), have been used as traditional medicine and, in recent years, as an ingredient in commercial energy beverages. However, mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of guarana are not well understood. To establish a model system to study molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of guarana, we investigated how its ingestion affects physiology in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We found that guarana enhanced oxidative stress resistance, longevity, physical activity, and fecundity of flies. To deepen our understanding of guarana function, we performed transcriptomic, metabolomic, and fecal microbiome analyses. Transcriptomic analysis identified 58 upregulated and eight downregulated genes in guarana-fed flies. Highly upregulated genes included those encoding detoxification enzymes, such as cytochromes P450 (CYPs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and Juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase 1 (Jheh1). Metabolomic analysis identified glutathione metabolism, an antioxidant system, as being promoted by guarana ingestion. These findings likely represent the molecular basis for enhanced oxidative stress resistance and longevity in guarana-fed flies. We also analyzed fecal microbiota composition and found significant changes: guarana increased the proportion of probiotic Lactobacillus species, some species known to extend longevity. At the same time, it decreased the proportion of Enterococcus faecalis, a species known to reduce longevity. These changes might have contributed to the beneficial effects of dietary guarana. Thus, we demonstrate that guarana exerts beneficial effects in flies and provide fundamental data for further investigation of its biological mechanisms in Drosophila.
亚马逊水果瓜拉那（巴西香可可）的种子一直被用作传统药物，近年来还被用作商业能量饮料的一种成分。然而，瓜拉那有益作用的潜在机制尚未得到充分了解。为了建立一个研究瓜拉那有益作用分子机制的模型系统，我们研究了其摄入如何影响果蝇（黑腹果蝇）的生理机能。我们发现瓜拉那增强了果蝇的抗氧化应激能力、寿命、身体活动能力和繁殖力。为了更深入地了解瓜拉那的功能，我们进行了转录组学、代谢组学和粪便微生物组分析。转录组分析确定了喂食瓜拉那的果蝇中有58个基因上调，8个基因下调。上调程度较高的基因包括那些编码解毒酶的基因，如细胞色素P450（CYPs）、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶（GSTs）和保幼激素环氧水解酶1（Jheh1）。代谢组分析确定谷胱甘肽代谢（一种抗氧化系统）因摄入瓜拉那而得到促进。这些发现可能代表了喂食瓜拉那的果蝇抗氧化应激能力增强和寿命延长的分子基础。我们还分析了粪便微生物群组成，发现了显著变化：瓜拉那增加了益生菌乳酸杆菌属的比例，其中一些物种已知可延长寿命。同时，它降低了粪肠球菌的比例，该物种已知会缩短寿命。这些变化可能促成了膳食瓜拉那的有益作用。因此，我们证明瓜拉那对果蝇有有益作用，并为进一步研究其在果蝇中的生物学机制提供了基础数据。
