Butia fruit extract (Butia eriospatha) protects against oxidative damage and increases lifespan on Caenorhabditis elegans

Butia (Butia eriospatha) is a fruit of a palm tree belonging to the family Arecaceae, native to South America. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of butia extract using Caenorhabditis elegans as animal model. Initially, we performed survival experiments, reproduction, resistance to oxidative stress (post or pre-treatment with paraquat or hydrogen peroxide), longevity, superoxide dismutase, and catalase GFP reporters' expression. We observed that butia extract did not affect the worms' survival. Similarly, egg laying also showed no significant difference between treatments. None of the extract concentrations tested was able to significantly protect or reverse paraquat-induced oxidative stress. However, they were able to reverse the oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide. In addition, butia extract increased C. elegans lifespan under stress and not per se. Our results demonstrate that the Butia is able to extend the lifespan of the nematode C. elegans and that this effect may be mediated by an induced resistance to oxidative stress. Practical applications The practical applications of this research are to expand and bring scientific knowledge to the population about the benefits of the consumption of this native fruit from the southern region of Brazil. Many fruits and other plant foods are consumed and spread with benefits without proper scientific proof of these benefits. This fruit is widely cultivated and its production and consumption can be expanded from these results. Still, we point out that this is the first time that the benefits of this fruit are studied.