Alexander, Courtney et al. (2021) International Worm Meeting "Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium Extract Improves Lifespan and Thermotolerance in C. elegans"

Mosely, Dontae, Deberry, Kazhmiri, Edwards, Ashley, Mariani, Hannah, Alexander, Courtney, Sandefur, Conner

[International Worm Meeting, 2021]

For centuries, Lumbee Indians of North Carolina have used indigenous plants like Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium, rabbit tobacco, to make medicinal teas. Other tribes, like Cherokees and Creeks, used rabbit tobacco teas to combat a host of illnesses and maladies from muscle pain to colds. These teas were believed to have anti-inflammatory properties, though the biology has not been explored. We harvested and dried local rabbit tobacco and prepared aqueous extracts. The extract improved the lifespan, thermotolerance and motility of young adult nematodes, compared to vehicle control. Animals were age-synchronized and exposed to either the aqueous extract or control media. Then, worms were tested for thermotolerance or motility. A lifespan analysis was run in parallel. Nematodes that were treated with rabbit tobacco extract lived longer and had improved thermotolerance and motility. Work is ongoing to determine the molecular mechanism for this phenotype, as well as testing other Lumbee plants. This work helps pave the way for a biological basis for indigenous medicine.