Examining the Effects of Oleuropein on Oxidatively-stressed Tetrahymena thermophila
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Authors
Jones, Chloe
Stiles, Grace
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Oleuropein, an active ingredient in olive leaf extract, is marketed as a homeopathic antioxidant supplement; however, its effect on gene expression and behavior has not been well studied. This study investigated the effectiveness of oleuropein as an antioxidant in oxidatively stressed Tetrahymena thermophila. It was hypothesized that there would be a change in the expression of genes related to alleviating oxidative stress along with a change in behaviors associated with metabolic activity and motility. The genes examined in this study were GPX1, which codes for an enzyme that protects cells from oxidative damage, and GST9, which codes for a detoxification protein. The behavioral assays employed assessed cell growth, cilia regrowth, and cell motility, illustrating oleuropein’s impacts on cellular metabolism. There were three treatment groups for this study: one control exposed to neither oleuropein nor hydrogen peroxide, another exposed to only hydrogen peroxide to induce oxidative stress, and a third that was exposed to both hydrogen peroxide and oleuropein. During the treatment period, cells were counted to determine growth rate and were subjected to the motility and deciliation assays 48 hours after culturing. Furthermore, expression of GPX1 and GST9 was assessed via Reverse-Transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Because it was hypothesized that oleuropein treatment would act as an antioxidant, it was predicted that there would be decreased expression of the antioxidant-related genes, GPX1 and GST9, along with the exhibition of normal metabolic and motility-related behaviors in the oxidatively stressed cells treated with oleuropein.