Abstract

This experiment analyzed the effects of pomegranate juice on C. elegans under thermal stress.  C. elegans, a nematode with similar genes to humans, is an effective model for studying human diseases. Thermal stress occurs when an organism is exposed to high temperatures, which results in the release of heat shock proteins. Heat shock proteins act as molecular chaperones that help restore protein homeostasis following heat stress. Despite their presence, thermal stress can still weaken antioxidant defense in organisms. However, pomegranate juice is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, which can help strengthen antioxidant defense. In this study, pomegranate extract was dissolved in water and mixed with agar powder. Using this pomegranate mixed agar, E. coli was cultured for 24 hours. The results showed that the 5 mg/ml concentration increased survival rates of C. elegans. However, the 10 and 20 mg/ml concentrations lowered survival rates, which can be attributed to dose-dependent toxicity. Interestingly, the higher concentrations of pomegranate extract significantly increased C. elegans reproductive rates. This research expands on previous studies that examined the effect of pomegranate juice on C. elegans and distinctly focuses on its role under thermal stress. This distinction helps gain a deeper insight into pomegranate juice's effect on oxidative stress.