The effects of tetrahydrocurcumin and green tea polyphenol on the survival of male C57BL/6 mice.

The effect of feeding of two different antioxidants, tetrahydrocurcumin (TC) and green tea polyphenols (PPs) on the survival of male C57BL/6 mice was examined. Mice that started to receive diets containing TC (0.2%) at the age of 13 months had significantly longer average life spans (days, mean +/- SD) than control mice (797.

What really declines with age? The Hayflick Lecture for 2006 35th American Aging Association.

In order to understand the basic mechanisms underlying the organismic aging process, considerable efforts have been devoted in the last half-century to biochemical (enzyme activity) alterations in specific tissues and organs of various organisms associated with aging. When a decline in enzyme activities with age has been found in a study, especially for key enzymes such as antioxidant enzymes, the results have often been interpreted as a cause for the aging of the entire body. Retrospectively, however, these changes turned out to be so variable--depending on species, strains and sexes of animals--that the interpretation of these results in general terms of aging became invalid.

The necessity of having a proper dose of (-)deprenyl (D) to prolong the life spans of rats explains discrepancies among different studies in the past.

(-)Deprenyl (D) has been shown to be effective in prolonging life span in experimental animals, although, there are some discrepancies in its effect on the life span the even within the same species (rats). The present study aims to clarify the reason for these discrepancies. Male F344/DuCrj rats began receiving subcutaneous (s.

Interventions in aging and age-associated pathologies by means of nutritional approaches.

So-called antioxidant strategies have not been shown convincingly to be effective in increasing life spans of animals. Thus, the general consensus of experimental gerontology in the last century was that the only reproducible means of prolonging survivals of animals is the calorie restriction paradigm. As a challenge against this dogma, we attempted to examine the effect of two potent antioxidants, one tetrahydrocurcumin (a biotransformed metabolite of curcumin contained in turmeric of Indian curry) and the other green tea polyphenols.

A protein free diet uncovers the potential age-difference in the hepatic detoxifying system, glutathione S-transferase, in female mice.

Female C57BL mice of six different ages (from 6 to 26 months) were given a protein free-diet (PFD) for 1 week and then given a normal diet (ND). Mice were examined for enzyme activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the hepatic cytosol fraction using l-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as substrate. Enzyme activities were very close among the six different age groups when examined for basal levels as well as after 1 week of PFD.

Neuroprotection by propargylamines in Parkinson's disease: suppression of apoptosis and induction of prosurvival genes.

In Parkinson's disease (PD), therapies to delay or suppress the progression of cell death in nigrostriatal dopamine neurons have been proposed by use of various agents. An inhibitor of type B monoamine oxidase (MAO-B), (-)deprenyl (selegiline), was reported to have neuroprotective activity, but clinical trials failed to confirm it. However, the animal and cellular models of PD proved that selegiline protects neurons from cell death.

Potential of sanguiin H-6 against oxidative damage in renal mitochondria and apoptosis mediated by peroxynitrite in vivo.

Potential of sanguiin H-6, a component of Sanguisorbae Radix, to protect against oxidative damage in renal mitochondria and apoptosis mediated by peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) was examined using a model in which rats were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and then subjected to renal ischemia followed reperfusion (LPS plus ischemia-reperfusion). Ischemia-reperfusion was achieved by occluding bilateral renal artery for 60 min and then releasing for 350 min. At 50 min after ischemia started, LPS was injected intravenously.

Why (--)deprenyl prolongs survivals of experimental animals: increase of anti-oxidant enzymes in brain and other body tissues as well as mobilization of various humoral factors may lead to systemic anti-aging effects.

(--)Deprenyl, a monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) inhibitor is known to upregulate activities of anti-oxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in brain dopaminergic regions. The drug is also the sole chemical which has been repeatedly shown to increase life spans of several animal species including rats, mice, hamsters and dogs. Further, the drug was recently found to enhance anti-oxidant enzyme activities not only in brain dopaminergic regions but also in extra-brain tissues such as the heart, kidneys, adrenal glands and the spleen.

Antioxidative activity of green tea polyphenol in cholesterol-fed rats.

This study investigated the effects of green tea polyphenol on the serum antioxidative activity and cholesterol levels of cholesterol-fed rats and compared them with those of probucol, an antioxidant hypocholesterolemic agent. To evaluate the antioxidative activity, the susceptibility to oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) isolated from the serum of cholesterol-fed rats was measured, as was the serum antioxidative activity using the spontaneous autoxidation system of brain homogenate. Administration of green tea polyphenol effectively inhibited LDL oxidation and elevated serum antioxidative activity to the same degree as probucol.

The first six years at the National Institute for Longevity Sciences, Japan.

The National Institute for Longevity Sciences (NILS) of Japan opened on July 7, 1995, 15 years after the Science Council of Japan recommended the establishment of the National Center for Aging and Geriatric Illnesses (the provisional name for NILS) in 1980. During the first four years of operation, 8 separate research departments, containing 21 laboratories, were established. NILS has both research departments for biomedical sciences, such as dementia research, molecular genetics, and geriatric research, and also departments of gerontechnology and the care of the elderly, which engage in research directed toward the comprehensive improvement of the health and well- being of the elderly.

Pharmacological interventions in aging and age-associated disorders: potentials of propargylamines for human use.

Past studies including our own have confirmed that chronic administration of deprenyl can prolong life spans of at least four different animal species. Pretreatment with the drug for several weeks increases activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in selective brain regions. An up-regulation of antioxidant enzyme activities can also be induced in organs such as the heart, kidney, spleen, and adrenal gland, and all are accompanied by an increase in mRNA levels for SODs in these organs.

Effects of sanguiin H-6, a component of Sanguisorbae Radix, on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated nitric oxide production.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of sanguiin H-6, a component of Sanguisorbae Radix, on the production of nitric oxide (NO), using macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sanguiin H-6 inhibited nitrite production, taken as an index for NO, in a concentration-dependent fashion. This compound decreased inducible NO synthase (iNOS) activity, with the inhibitory effect at a concentration of 25 microM being equal to that of the known iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine at 50 microM.