Bacopa monnieri Plant Extract Reinstates the Development, Growth and Lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans During Sterol Auxotrophic Conditions

Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennel, is therapeutically important medicinal plant owing to its high saponin content, which is chiefly responsible for its beneficial medicinal properties. The backbone structure of saponins derived from B. monnieri exhibits structural similarity with sterols, especially cholesterol. C. elegans, a free living nematode has sterol auxotrophy and thus requires sterol supplementation for its normal growth and development. To decipher the probable effects of B. monnieri saponins, growth and lifespan of C. elegans were monitored using cholesterol deprived medium supplemented with B. monnieri aqueous extract (BMW). The body size and lifespan of C. elegans was significantly restored by supplementation of BMW in dose dependent manner; the results were further validated by Sudan Black and Nile Red staining. The study strongly proposes the role for BMW as a substitute for cholesterol in C. elegans.