To explore the anti-aging effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA) and the underlying mechanisms based on a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model.

The anti-aging activity of CGA was studied based on the body length, exercise behavior, lipofuscin content, antioxidative stress ability, swallowing frequency, body-bending frequency, and head-swinging ability of C. elegans. Through DAF-16 nuclear translocation and SOD-3-GFP fluorescence experiments, the effects of CGA on ROS levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, MDA content, mutant-strain lifespan, and anti-aging molecular signaling pathways were explored, as well as the underlying mechanisms.

CGA improved multiple indices of the nematode: body length was increased (all P < .001), head-swing frequency and body-bending frequency were increased (all P < .05), nematode longevity was prolonged (P = .0021), lipofuscin deposition in nematodes was slowed down (all P < .001), the chemotaxis index was improved (P = .0012), ROS levels were reduced (all P < .001), and SOD activity and MDA content were reduced (SOD: P = .0017 between the low-concentration group and the control group, P < .001 between the high-concentration and medium-concentration groups and the control group; MDA: P = .0135 between the low-concentration group and the control group, and P < .001 between the high-concentration and medium-concentration groups and the control group). In addition, CGA also activated the DAF-16 transcription factor, promoted DAF-16 nuclear translocation under oxidative stress conditions (both P < .001 between the high-concentration and medium-concentration groups and the control group), and increased SOD-3 gene expression in nematodes (all P < .001).

CGA plays an anti-aging role in C. elegans. The underlying mechanisms include activation of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway and enhancement of DAF-16 activity. This study lays a foundation for further research into the anti-aging effects of CGA.