Radish Red Anthocyanins Extract Attenuated High-Fat Diet-Induced Aging in Association with Improving Antioxidant Defense and Gut Microbiota–Metabolite Changes in Drosophila Melanogaster

Background: Radish red anthocyanins (RRA) extract, derived from geographical-indication Yanzhi radish from Fuling, Chongqing, China, was investigated to attenuate high-fat diet- induced aging in Drosophila melanogaster. RRA extract, rich in acylated pelargonidin- and cyanidin-based anthocyanins, extended lifespan without reducing food intake, improved reproductive and locomotor performance, raised superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, whereas reduced malondialdehyde accumulation. Mthoths: Using a Drosophila melanogaster model, we investigated the anti-aging effects of RRA extract and its potential underlying mechanisms. Results: It enhanced resistance to starvation, cold, and heat stress, reduced age-associated intestinal leakage, and regulated antioxidant- and autophagy-related genes, particularly manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) and autophagy-related 8a (Atg8a). Gut microbiota analysis showed high-dose RRA supplementation selectively increased Pseudomonas-related amplicon sequence variants 30 and 31. Untargeted metabolomics showed variations in glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, nucleotide, and amino acid metabolism. Correlation results linked these Pseudomonas-related bacteria with lipid/nucleotide-related metabolites and stress resistance. Conclusions: RRA extract alleviated diet-induced aging through antioxidant defense, intestinal protection, and gut microbiota–metabolite modulation, providing a research basis for high-value utilization of Yanzhi radish anthocyanins.