Abstract
“This study explores the impact of varying concentrations of aqueous Datura stramonium leaf extract on the expression of FoxO and Eater genes in Drosophila melanogaster, along with its toxicity over a 21-day period. “Since these genes are integral to cellular stress responses and immune functions, they are vital for understanding how plant-derived substances affect genetic pathways”. Quantitative PCR was used to evaluate relative gene expression levels in Drosophila treated with different extract doses. RNA was extracted from Drosophila exposed to varying concentrations of the extract (0 mg/kg, 2000 mg/kg, 4000 mg/kg, and 8000 mg/kg). Following RNA purification, complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized via reverse transcription. qPCR was performed using gene-specific primers to amplify target sequences, and data analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism 8.0 (California, USA). The results showed a dose-dependent increase in eater mRNA expression, a receptor involved in phagocytosis, with the highest level (54.41 ± 2.03, p < 0.01) observed in the 8000 mg/kg group, significantly higher than the control (26.25 ± 1.13). In contrast, dFOXO, a transcription factor associated with stress and programmed cell death, displayed a more complex response. The 8000 mg/kg group (61.27 ± 1.11, p < 0.05) exhibited a significantly elevated dFOXOexpression relative to the 2000 mg/kg group (54.69 ± 0.85), while remaining comparable to the control (60.43 ± 1.4). Toxicity was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, which revealed a marked reduction in survival rates (p = 0.0151) with higher extract concentrations. By the end of the 21-day period, survival rates were 48.87%, 20.13%, and 0.0% for the 2000 mg/kg, 4000 mg/kg, and 8000 mg/kg groups, respectively, compared to 94.74% in the control group. These outcomes suggest that D. stramonium contains bioactive compounds with notable genetic effects. The findings contribute valuable insights into plant-derived treatments and their influence on molecular pathways, demonstrating potential applications in biomedical research and environmental toxicology. In conclusion, the study provides preliminary evidence that Datura stramonium extract can regulate key genes related to health and aging in Drosophila, as shown by the dose-dependent increase in Eater and FoxO gene expression.”
