Effect of commercial Adaptogen preparations of Withania somnifera, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Echinacea species on fertility of Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Physiological stress is one major environmental factor that influences fertility and longevity. Stress management has been shown to improve both fertility and longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). C. elegans is commonly used as an in vivo model of human diseases such as stress and used in pharmaceutical research. Adaptogens are plant species that contain phytochemicals that assist the body via the HPA axis and heat shock proteins to manage stress, with species including; Withania (W. somnifera), Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), and Echinacea (E. purpurea, E. angustifolia). Stress reduction, fertility and longevity and thought to be inter-connected. In this study com..