Prolongevity effects of an oregano and cranberry extract are diet dependent in the Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens).

Botanicals have numerous health benefits. Here, we used the Mexican fruit fly to screen 14 compounds and botanicals for their prolongevity effects and found an oregano and cranberry mixture (OC) improved survival. We then evaluated prolongevity effects of OC within the context of diet composition. Individual flies were fed 0%, 1%, or 2% OC in one of the three diets containing sugar and yeast extract (SY) at a ratio of 3:1, 9:1, or 24:1. We found that prolongevity effects of OC depended upon dose, gender, and diet composition. The greatest increase in longevity was observed in females fed the SY24:1 diet with 2% OC compared to the non-supplemented diet. OC did not reduce egg laying and, hence, did not compromise fecundity under any dietary condition tested here. This study reveals the prolongevity effects of OC and supports the emerging view that benefits of botanicals on aging depend on diet composition and gender.