Abstract
Ageing constitutes the most important risk factor for all major chronic ailments, including malignant, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. However, behavioural and pharmacological interventions with feasible potential to promote health upon ageing remain rare. Here we report the identification of the flavonoid 4,4′-dimethoxychalcone (DMC) as a natural compound with anti-ageing properties. External DMC administration extends the lifespan of yeast, worms and flies, decelerates senescence of human cell cultures, and protects mice from prolonged myocardial ischaemia. Concomitantly, DMC induces autophagy, which is essential for its cytoprotective effects from yeast to mice. This pro-autophagic response induces a conserved systemic change in metabolism, operates independently of TORC1 signalling and depends on specific GATA transcription factors. Notably, we identify DMC in the plant Angelica keiskei koidzumi, to which longevity- and health-promoting effects are ascribed in Asian traditional medicine. In summary, we have identified and mechanistically characterised the conserved longevity-promoting effects of a natural anti-ageing drug.
Reference:
Carmona-Gutierrez D, Zimmermann A, Kainz K, Pietrocola F, Chen G, Maglioni S, Schiavi A, Nah J, Mertel S, Beuschel CB, Castoldi F, Sica V, Trausinger G, Raml R, Sommer C, Schroeder S, Hofer SJ, Bauer MA, Pendl T, Tadic J, Dammbrueck C, Hu Z, Ruckenstuhl C, Eisenberg T, Durand S, Bossut N, Aprahamian F, Abdellatif M, Sedej S, Enot DP, Wolinski H, Dengjel J, Kepp O, Magnes C, Sinner F, Pieber TR, Sadoshima J, Ventura N, Sigrist SJ, Kroemer G, Madeo F. The flavonoid 4,4′-dimethoxychalcone promotes autophagy-dependent longevity across species. Nat Commun. 2019 Feb 19;10(1):651. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-08555-w. PubMed PMID: 30783116; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6381180.
Keywords: flavonoids, 4,4′-dimethoxychalcone, autophagy-dependent longevity, Angelica keiskei koidzumi, medicinal plants, traditional medicine, folk medicine, herbal drugs, natural products, phytochemicals, #longevity, #aging, TORC1 signalling, GATA transcription factors, cytoprotective effects, lifespan, anti-ageing effects.
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