X-Message-Number: 26899 Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 19:14:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug Skrecky <> Subject: 191'st update on fly longevity experiments This is the 191'st update of my fly longevity experiments. Average temperature was 25.4 C during this run. Estimated maximal longevity using the formula (363 - T*11.2) is 79 days. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) exerts a neuroprotective effect at low doses in mammals. Although all fats that have been tested in flies have proved to be toxic, I theorize that there might be a possibility that DHA at a low enough dosage might retard motor neuron degeneration in flies, and thereby increase their maximum lifespan. The present results indicate this may indeed be a possibility. However further testing would be needed to verify this. A possible benefit is also here noted for the anti-diabetic herb gymnema sylvestre. This herb is being retested in run #195. Run #191 Percent Survival on Day supplement 15 22 32 39 48 58 68 75 __________________________________________________ control one 95 75 50 30 25 10 0 - control two 59 59 53 41 29 6 0 - black cohosh 5 mg 78 67 50 17 11 0 - - " 20 mg 56 44 38 31 13 6 0 - " 80 mg 44 44 31 19 13 0 - - docosahexaenoic 17 mg 53 53 53 47 32 11 5 0 " 50 mg 81 56 44 25 6 0 - - " 250 mg 60 60 47 13 0 - - - gymnema sylvestre 13 mg 92 62 54 46 15 0 - - " 50 mg 71 71 71 57 43 29 7 0 " 200 mg 100 100 75 75 33 25 0 - Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=26899