To test the hypothesis that the antioxidant properties of the RSP extract may contribute to the observed neuroprotective effect in C. elegans models of neurodegenerative diseases, we determined whether the RSP extract had the potential to activate antioxidant pathways, using C. elegans reporter strains for the gst-4, gcs-1 and sod-3 genes. The gene discussed is SOD3; the disease is neurodegenerative disease.