Corn Oil Supplementation Enhances Locomotor Performance and Mitochondrial Function in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are vital for brain health, supporting cognitive development and helping to prevent neurodegenerative diseases. Since the body cannot produce them, they must be obtained through food. This study aimed to assess the effects of corn oil on the behavior and biochemical param...

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Main Authors: Jadyellen Rondon Silva, Thiago Henrique Oliveira Alves, Eric Bruno Silva Santos, Marylu Mardegan Lima, Giulia Covolo Spegiorim, Carlos Antônio Couto-Lima, Luciane Carla Alberici, Marcos José Jacinto, Anderson Oliveira Souza
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7607
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author Jadyellen Rondon Silva
Thiago Henrique Oliveira Alves
Eric Bruno Silva Santos
Marylu Mardegan Lima
Giulia Covolo Spegiorim
Carlos Antônio Couto-Lima
Luciane Carla Alberici
Marcos José Jacinto
Anderson Oliveira Souza
author_facet Jadyellen Rondon Silva
Thiago Henrique Oliveira Alves
Eric Bruno Silva Santos
Marylu Mardegan Lima
Giulia Covolo Spegiorim
Carlos Antônio Couto-Lima
Luciane Carla Alberici
Marcos José Jacinto
Anderson Oliveira Souza
author_sort Jadyellen Rondon Silva
collection DOAJ
description Polyunsaturated fatty acids are vital for brain health, supporting cognitive development and helping to prevent neurodegenerative diseases. Since the body cannot produce them, they must be obtained through food. This study aimed to assess the effects of corn oil on the behavior and biochemical parameters of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>. The flies were fed a diet supplemented with different concentrations of corn oil from the larval stage until the fifth day of adulthood. A diet containing corn oil (37.8 mg/mL of linoleic acid) reduced mortality under starvation conditions and enhanced locomotor performance (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Biochemical analyses revealed increased levels of glutathione (<i>p</i> < 0.001), citrate synthase activity (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and mitochondrial phosphorylation (<i>p</i> < 0.05), indicating a potential boost in energy metabolism. Conversely, a decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity (<i>p</i> < 0.05) was observed, suggesting cholinergic modulation. These results demonstrate that corn oil supplementation supports neural health in this animal model, opening pathways for further research into non-pharmacological treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
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spelling doaj-art-02564aa036e64b7e8e36c376bfd15ac32025-08-20T03:50:16ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011513760710.3390/app15137607Corn Oil Supplementation Enhances Locomotor Performance and Mitochondrial Function in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>Jadyellen Rondon Silva0Thiago Henrique Oliveira Alves1Eric Bruno Silva Santos2Marylu Mardegan Lima3Giulia Covolo Spegiorim4Carlos Antônio Couto-Lima5Luciane Carla Alberici6Marcos José Jacinto7Anderson Oliveira Souza8Mitochondrial Metabolism and Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 79070-900, BrazilMitochondrial Metabolism and Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 79070-900, BrazilLaboratory of Ecology and Microbial Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 79070-900, BrazilDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-220, BrazilDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-220, BrazilOncoFly Laboratory, Department of Clinical Analysis, São Paulo State University, Araraquara 14800-903, BrazilDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-220, BrazilLaboratory of Nanomaterials and Catalysis, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 79070-900, BrazilMitochondrial Metabolism and Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 79070-900, BrazilPolyunsaturated fatty acids are vital for brain health, supporting cognitive development and helping to prevent neurodegenerative diseases. Since the body cannot produce them, they must be obtained through food. This study aimed to assess the effects of corn oil on the behavior and biochemical parameters of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>. The flies were fed a diet supplemented with different concentrations of corn oil from the larval stage until the fifth day of adulthood. A diet containing corn oil (37.8 mg/mL of linoleic acid) reduced mortality under starvation conditions and enhanced locomotor performance (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Biochemical analyses revealed increased levels of glutathione (<i>p</i> < 0.001), citrate synthase activity (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and mitochondrial phosphorylation (<i>p</i> < 0.05), indicating a potential boost in energy metabolism. Conversely, a decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity (<i>p</i> < 0.05) was observed, suggesting cholinergic modulation. These results demonstrate that corn oil supplementation supports neural health in this animal model, opening pathways for further research into non-pharmacological treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7607<i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>corn oilbiochemical and behavioral parametersfunctional food
spellingShingle Jadyellen Rondon Silva
Thiago Henrique Oliveira Alves
Eric Bruno Silva Santos
Marylu Mardegan Lima
Giulia Covolo Spegiorim
Carlos Antônio Couto-Lima
Luciane Carla Alberici
Marcos José Jacinto
Anderson Oliveira Souza
Corn Oil Supplementation Enhances Locomotor Performance and Mitochondrial Function in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>
Applied Sciences
<i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>
corn oil
biochemical and behavioral parameters
functional food
title Corn Oil Supplementation Enhances Locomotor Performance and Mitochondrial Function in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>
title_full Corn Oil Supplementation Enhances Locomotor Performance and Mitochondrial Function in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>
title_fullStr Corn Oil Supplementation Enhances Locomotor Performance and Mitochondrial Function in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>
title_full_unstemmed Corn Oil Supplementation Enhances Locomotor Performance and Mitochondrial Function in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>
title_short Corn Oil Supplementation Enhances Locomotor Performance and Mitochondrial Function in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>
title_sort corn oil supplementation enhances locomotor performance and mitochondrial function in i drosophila melanogaster i
topic <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>
corn oil
biochemical and behavioral parameters
functional food
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7607
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