Journal of Agriculture and Food Research · Sep 19, 2026
Valorization of microwave-assisted optimized pomelo peel extract mitigates bisphenol A–induced oxidative stress and premature aging in Drosophila and disruption of myogenesis in C2C12 cells
By Inthachat W, Wudtiwai B, Umsumarng S et al.
Environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), for example, bisphenol A (BPA), are considered potent stimulants resulting in muscle wasting and premature aging, triggered by oxidative stress and alterations in cellular proteostasis. Citrus maxima (pomelo) peel, an underutilized agricultural byproduct, is an abundant source of bioactive flavonoids with therapeutic potential. In this study the protective efficacy of optimized pomelo peel extract (PPE) against BPA-induced muscle wasting and accelerated aging was investigated. PPE was obtained via microwave-assisted extraction, a process maximized using response surface methodology, yielding an extract with optimal total phenolics. The biological efficacy of PPE was assessed using complementary Drosophila melanogaster and murine C2C12 skeletal myoblast models. In flies, prolonged exposure to BPA resulted in significantly reduced lifespan and impaired locomotor performance and triggered accumulation of systemic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Supplementation with dietary PPE (125–250 μg/mL) prolonged the lifespan of the models, preserved the locomotor functions, and attenuated the accumulation of ROS. BPA induced the antioxidant, DNA-repair, and myogenic inhibitor transcripts, and PPE normalized these transcripts at the gene-expression level to a pattern consistent with a reduced oxidative burden. Concurrently, in C2C12 myoblasts, PPE was associated with BPA-induced suppression of myogenic differentiation, restoring the fusion index, expression of MEF2A, and activation of the Akt/4E-BP1 signaling axis. Collectively, these results suggest that PPE reduced BPA-induced oxidative stress in flies and improved myogenic differentiation in myoblasts, which may help mitigate muscle wasting and aging-related phenotypes. Pomelo peel is a sustainable source of bioactive compounds, showing potential as a nutraceutical or functional food ingredient to counteract endocrine disruptor–associated muscle wasting and premature aging.