Dietary Supplementation of Quercetin Delays High-Sugar Diet-Induced Premature Ovarian Aging in Drosophila melanogaster

Background

High-Sugar Diets (HSD) constitute a significant lifestyle concern, contributing to metabolic disorders and accelerated aging. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, shares significant genetic and metabolic similarities with humans, making it an excellent model for studying diet-induced premature aging, particularly of the ovary.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the potential of the dietary flavonoid quercetin, a compound abundant in plant sources, to alleviate HSD-induced premature ovarian aging in D. melanogaster.

Materials and Methods

Female flies were fed a Control Diet (CD), HSD (30% sucrose), or HSD supplemented with various quercetin doses (0.05-0.5 mg/g) for 20 days. Survival, climbing ability, ovarian morphology, and biochemical markers (glucose, triglycerides, oxidative stress, acetylcholinesterase activity) were assessed. Gene expression related to oxidative stress and hormonal signaling was analysed via RT-qPCR.

Results

Quercetin at 0.1 and 0.25 mg/g significantly extended lifespan, improved climbing performance, and restored ovarian architecture in HSD-fed flies. It normalized metabolic profiles (glucose, TAG, protein levels), reduced oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation), and modulated acetylcholinesterase activity. Quercetin also upregulated key genes involved in antioxidant defense (Nrf2, FOXO) and steroid hormone signaling (ECR, JHAMT, Kr-h1), which HSD disrupted.

Conclusion

Quercetin supplementation effectively delays HSD-induced premature ovarian aging in Drosophila by mitigating metabolic dysfunction, oxidative stress, and hormonal imbalance, highlighting its potential as a protective dietary intervention.