Effects of trans-resveratrol and dimethyl sulfoxide on intermediate metabolism and lipoperoxidation in Drosophila melanogaster

Many plants contain the phytoalexin trans-resveratrol, red grapes and peanuts being rich in this antioxidant which is thought to be responsible for the protection which wine have been reported to provide against diseases; many authors considering this antioxidant also to have the ability to retard aging. We investigated the effects of trans-resveratrol on the energetic metabolism in D. melanogaster during the adult life. Adult male and female of the D. melanogaster were divides into 3 groups: treatment group received 1mM of trans-resveratrol dissolved in 3% of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), whereas the control group received only DMSO or water. For the analyses of energy metabolism (lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, glycogen and proteins) and lipoperoxidation the flies were treated during 21 days. All these experiments were repeated five times in five different cohorts. Results for the metabolism in control group and treated groups with trans-resveratrol or DMSO showed that both sexes flies showed selective responses to the different treatments. Both sexes of flies treated with trans-resveratrol or DMSO showed different values for cholesterol, glycogen and total protein as compared to control flies. These results indicate that both treatments can modulate energy metabolism and lipoperoxidation in this strain of D. melanogaster in both sexes