Aging is a normal phenomenon of physiological, emotional, and psychological changes. But it is more on the physical shifts of one’s asking, arteries, and blood vessels, brain, and bones. These changes mark the inevitable reality of old age and the health risks associated with it.
But a new study published in the journal Nature Metabolism reveals a powerful chemical substance derived from grape seed extract that may manipulate the root cause behind the physiological changes that happen as a person ages.
A chemical substance derived from grape fruit extract may boost longevity, according to a study. (PHOTO: HumanN)
Senolytics Explained
Some changes due to aging are visible to the eye, but there are others that happen deep within the cellular level. According to Inverse, this process is known as cellular senescence.
This hallmark of aging is the result of lifetime stress, injury, and diseases that damage cells. Typically, a process called apoptosis can eliminate worn-out cells. But senescence cells sometimes arise, especially during old age, that accumulate damaged and dysfunctional cells that lead to inflammation and contribute to a range of age-related illnesses.
Leonard Hayflick and Paul Moorhead discovered senescent cells in the 1960s associating them to a long list of age-related conditions, such as cancer, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, heart problems, and stroke.
The new study’s co-author Yu Sun, a scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained to Inverse that these diseases could occur simultaneously as multimorbidity. He emphasized that aging is the single largest risk factor for most major chronic diseases.
Chemical Substance from Grape Seed Extract Destroy Worn-Out Cells
Researchers from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai tested the chemical substance from the grape seed extract called procyanidin C1 (PCC1).
New Scientist reported that low concentrations of PCC1 prevent senescent cells from producing inflammatory substances. But at high concentrations, it kills cells and leaves younger cells intact.
During their experiments with 171 2-year-old mice, which is equivalent to a 70-year-old human, they found that PCC1 increased the lifespan of mice by 9%. More so, it improved the fitness of mice below two years old who were injected with PCC1 solution every two weeks.
They also tested the chemical substance on tumors and found that PCC1 could kill aged tumor cells and boost chemotherapy. For instance, prostate tumors were found to shrank 75% of the time with PCC1 treatment compared to only 44% with chemotherapy alone.
