It is known that the activation of FOXO transcription factors promote extreme longevity, which has been demonstrated in research animals as well as in animals such as the multi-cell animal hydra. In human longevity, those with gene variants which activate higher levels of FOXO are also the longest lived with least amounts of illness and disease.
Despite years of research declaring that antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, promoted longevity, none have been shown to activate the longevity factors FOXO or Nrf2. Rather, potent longevity factor activation has been shown by many plant based flavonoids. (1) Flavonoids are yellow in nature, and the word is derived from the latin flavus, which means yellow.
Other FOXO Activators and Longevity Pathways:
REFERENCES:
(1) Pallauf K, et al. Flavonoids as Putative Inducers of the Transcription Factors Nrf2, FoxO, and PPARγ. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017
(2) Paredes-Gonzales X, et al. Induction of NRF2-mediated gene expression by dietary phytochemical flavones apigenin and luteolin. Biopharm Drug Dispos. 2015 Oct
(3) Zhang L, et al. Significant longevity-extending effects of EGCG on Caenorhabditis elegans under stress Free Radic Biol Med.
(4) Wai-Jiao Cai, et al. Icariin and its Derivative Icariside II Extend Healthspan via Insulin/IGF-1 Pathway in C. elegans. PLoS One, 2011
(5) Zhang SQ, et al. Icariin, a natural flavonol glycoside, extends healthspan in mice. Exp Gerontol. 2015 Sep;
(6) Jung HY, et al. Myricetin improves endurance capacity and mitochondrial density by activating SIRT1 and PGC-1α. Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 24
(7) Tang BL. Sirt1 and the Mitochondria. Mol Cells. 2016 Feb
(8) Xiang L, et al. Tetrahydrocurcumin extends life span and inhibits the oxidative stress response by regulating the FOXO forkhead transcription factor. Aging (Albany NY) 2011 Nov
(9) Shen LR, et al. Curcumin-supplemented diets increase superoxide dismutase activity and mean lifespan in Drosophila. Age (Dordr) 2013 Aug;
While we live in an age where people are living longer, an important limiting factor on longevity is the ability of the heart to maintain function. Known causes of death for the oldest people on record (over 110 years old) were recorded as heart failure. Heart failure is due to the gradual loss of cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells) and the increase in scarring of the heart muscle. The process may take place due to low grade inflammation of the muscle, which progresses with age, or injury (such as a heart attack) which may cause a more sudden loss of heart function. Inflammation in the cardiovascular system is common with the aging process, being the result of hypertension, high blood glucose, trigylcerides, or oxidized VDL cholesterol.
Cardiac Aging Characteristics:
Key Conditions of the Aging Heart
Natural support for Cardio Anti-aging
CARDIO VITALITY (Terminalia Arjuna (Rejuna))
YELLOW LONGEVITY (Curcumin, EGCG, Apigenin, Luteolin, Icariin, Carnosic Acid)*
YELLOW NATURALLY (Curcumin, EGCG, Apigenin, Luteolin, Icariin, Carnosic Acid)*
VISION VITALITY MAX (Lutein, Meso Zeaxanthin)
XGEVITY (Glucoraphanin precursor to Sulforaphane)*
*Andrographolide is also included
REFERENCES:
(1) Steenman M, et al. Cardiac aging and heart disease in humans. Biophys Rev. 2017 Apr;
(2) Zhu ZY, et al. Apigenin ameliorates hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy and down-regulates cardiac hypoxia inducible factor-lα in rats. Food Funct. 2016 Apr;7
(3) Liu HJ, et al. Apigenin alleviates STZ-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy. Mol Cell Biochem. 2017 Apr
(4) Hu W, et al. Luteolin improves cardiac dysfunction in heart failure rats by regulating sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a. Sci Rep. 2017 Jan
(5) Oberoi L, et al. The aqueous extract, not organic extracts, of Terminalia arjuna bark exerts cardiotonic effect on adult ventricular myocytes. Phytomedicine. 2011 Feb 15
(6) Parveen A, et al. Terminalia arjuna enhances baroreflex sensitivity and myocardial function in isoproterenol-induced chronic heart failure rats. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Jun
(7) Kaliq F, et al, Improvement in myocardial function by Terminalia arjuna in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: possible mechanisms. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Sept.
(8) Kumar S, et al. Proteomic analysis of the protective effects of aqueous bark extract of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) on isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2017 Feb 23
(9) Kocak C, et al, Molecular and biochemical evidence on the protective effects of embelin and carnosic acid in isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial injury in rats. Life Sci. 2016 Feb 15
(10) Chung RWS, et al. Lutein exerts anti-inflammatory effects in patients with coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis. 2017 May 6;
(11) Girandola RN, et al. Effect of E-OJ-01 on Cardiac Conditioning in Young Exercising Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Ther. 2017 May
(12) Qian ZQ, et al. Icariin prevents hypertension-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Biomed Pharmacother. 2017 Apr.
(13) Gu J, et al. Metallothionein Is Downstream of Nrf2 and Partially Mediates Sulforaphane Prevention of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy. Diabetes. 2017 Feb;
(14) Lin CM, et al. Suppressive effect of epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate on endoglin molecular regulation in myocardial fibrosis in vitro and in vivo. J Cell Mol Med. 2016 Nov;
(15) Tan WS, et al. Is there a future for andrographolide to be an anti-inflammatory drug? Deciphering its major mechanisms of action. Biochem Pharmacol. 2017 Apr 2
(16) Lv FH, et al. Effects of curcumin on the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and the expression of NF-κB, PPAR-γ and Bcl-2 in rats with myocardial infarction injury. Exp Ther Med. 2016 Dec
(17) Khaliq F, et al. Improvement in myocardial function by Terminalia arjuna in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: possible mechanisms. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther, 2013 Sep
(18) Hashemzaei M, et al. Regulation of autophagy by some natural products as a potential therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular disorders. Eur J Pharmacol. 2017 May
(19) Hu J, et al. Luteolin alleviates post-infarction cardiac dysfunction by up-regulating autophagy through Mst1 inhibition. J Cell Mol Med, 2016 Jan
(20) Meghwani H, et al. Beneficial effects of aqueous extract of stem bark of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.), An ayurvedic drug in experimental pulmonary hypertension. J Ethnopharmocol. 2017 Feb 2
(21) Woo AY, et al. Andrographolide up-regulates cellular-reduced glutathione level and protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2008 Apr
(22) Zhang J, et al. Andrographolide Attenuates LPS-Induced Cardiac Malfunctions Through Inhibition of IκB Phosphorylation and Apoptosis in Mice. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2015
(23) Fernandes RO, et al. Sulforaphane effects on postinfarction cardiac remodeling in rats: modulation of redox-sensitive prosurvival and proapoptotic proteins. J Nutr Biochem. 2016 Aug
Aging of the brain involves the loss of neurons (hippocapmus shrinkage), loss of synapse integrity between neurons, build-up of toxic amyloid proteins, neuron tangles, defects in blood flow and chronic inflammation. Under normal age progression, these events do not happen over night and may take years before impairments in cognition become noticed.
Ultimate anti-aging strategies for the brain and memory should target the progressive decline of the brain and promote reversal and recovery of some cognition impairments.
Emerging research in the study of herbal ingredients show their tremendous potential use in mitigating the decline in brain function with age.
Herbs and Extracts
- Andrographolide - As an extract from Andrographis Paniculata. Lab research has shown stimulation of neurogenesis in the hippocampus by andorgrapholide. Specifically " increased cell proliferation and the density of immature neurons in the dentate gyrus." (1) The dentate gyrus is an area of the hippocampus involved in memory formation.
- Centella asiatica - Acts as a potent memory enhancer, via increasing hippocampus neurogenesis and support for brain tissue regeneration. (2)
- Baicalin (3)
- Panax Ginseng (4)
- Curcumin (5)
- Epimedium (Icariin) (6)
- Apigenin (7)
Herbs and Extracts
- Centella asiatica - Improves structural integrity of axons / myelination and proliferation of dendritic branching and length. Such improvements have been shown to enhance learning and improve memory. (8) Centella asiatica also has been shown to improve learning and memory in normal lab mice.
- Luteolin - Baicalin - promote neuronal survival and neuron differentiation through the outgrowth of neurites (axons and dendrites) from the neuron.(9.10)
- Rosemary (Carnosic Acid) - Strongly promotes neurite outgrowth as a function of powerful Nrf2 activity. Suppressed Nrf2 activation suppresses neuron differentiation.(11)
Herbs and Extracts
- Andrographolide - Impairment of synaptic function between neurons plays a significant role in the loss of cognitive function. This is seen in the progression of AD. In research animals with AD-like cognitive disease, the treatment of andrographolide over a 3 month span imporved synaptic function and protected important synaptic proteins.
- Furthermore, andrographolide has been shown to reduce inflammation in the brain and levels of pathological tau protein and beta amyloid in animal models.(12)
- Andrographolide reduces inflammation and dysfunction of the cerebral endothelial cells, which may affect vascular flow to the brain.(13)
- Centella asiactica - in senescence-accelerated lab mice, which had accelerated aging of the brain, administration of centella asiatica significantly improved synaptic plasticity and reduced beta amyloid build-up. Such treated mice showed significant benefits in memory and learning. (14)
REFERENCES:
NEUROGENESIS
(1) Varela-Nallar L, et al. Andrographolide Stimulates Neurogenesis in the Adult Hippocampus. Neural Plast, 2015.
(2) Sirichoat A, et al. Effects of Asiatic Acid on Spatial Working Memory and Cell Proliferation in the Adult Rat Hippocampus. Nutrients. 2015 Oct 5
(3) Zhang K, et al. Baicalin promotes hippocampal neurogenesis via SGK1- and FKBP5-mediated glucocorticoid receptor phosphorylation in a neuroendocrine mouse model of anxiety/depression. Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 9
(4) Jiang B, et al. Antidepressant-like effects of ginsenoside Rg1 are due to activation of the BDNF signalling pathway and neurogenesis in the hippocampus. Br J Pharmacol. 2012 Jul;
(5) Pluta R, et al. Neurogenesis and neuroprotection in postischemic brain neurodegeneration with Alzheimer phenotype: is there a role for curcumin? Folia Neuropathol. 2015
(6) Li F, et al. Icariin decreases both APP and Aβ levels and increases neurogenesis in the brain of Tg2576 mice. Neuroscience. 2015 Sep 24
(7) Taupin P. Apigenin and related compounds stimulate adult neurogenesis. Mars, Inc., the Salk Institute for Biological Studies: WO2008147483. Expert Opin Ther Pat. 2009 Apr
BRAIN TISSUE REGENERATION
(8) Yogeswarin L, et al. Recent Updates in Neuroprotective and Neuroregenerative Potential of Centella asiatica. Malays J Med Sci 2016 Jan.
(9) Chen PY, et al. Up-Regulation of miR-34a Expression in Response to the Luteolin-Induced Neurite Outgrowth of PC12 Cells. J Agric Food Chem. 2015 Apr
(10) Li M, et al. Neuronal differentiation of C17.2 neural stem cells induced by a natural flavonoid, baicalin. Chembiochem. 2011 Feb 11;
(11) Kosaka K, et al. Role of Nrf2 and p62/ZIP in the neurite outgrowth by carnosic acid in PC12h cells. J Biochem. 2010 Jan;
RECOVERING COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION
(12) Rivera DS, et al. Andrographolide recovers cognitive impairment in a natural model of Alzheimer's disease (Octodon degus). Neurobiol Aging. 2016 Jul 5
(13) Chang CC, et al. Andrographolide, a Novel NF-κB Inhibitor, Inhibits Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Cerebral Endothelial Cell Inflammation. Acta Cardiol Sin. 2014 Jul;
(14) Xing L, et al. Beneficial effects of asiaticoside on cognitive deficits in senescence-accelerated mice. Fitoterapia. 2013 Jun.
NEUROPROTECTION - AMYLOID TOXICITY AND INFLAMMATION
(15) Gray NE, et al. Centella asiatica Attenuates Amyloid-β-Induced Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction. J Alzheimers Dis. 2015
(16) Zhang L, et al. Icariin reduces α-synuclein over-expression by promoting α-synuclein degradation. Age (Dondr.) 2015 Aug
(17) Chen YJ, et al. Neuroprotective Effects of Icariin on Brain Metabolism, Mitochondrial Functions, and Cognition in Triple-Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Mice. CNS Neurosci Ther, 2016 Jan
(18) Dirscherl K, et al. Luteolin triggers global changes in the microglial transcriptome leading to a unique anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective phenotype. J Neuroinflammation 2010 Jan
(19) Rezai-Zedeh K, et al. Apigenin and luteolin modulate microglial activation via inhibition of STAT1-induced CD40 expression. J Neuroinflammation. 2008 Sep
(20) Chen C, et al. Baicalin attenuates alzheimer-like pathological changes and memory deficits induced by amyloid β1-42 protein. Metab Brain Dis. 2015 Apr
(21) Song F, et al. Schizandrin A Inhibits Microglia-Mediated Neuroninflammation through Inhibiting TRAF6-NF-κB and Jak2-Stat3 Signaling Pathways. PLoS One. 2016 Feb 26;
(22) Habtemariam S. The Therapeutic Potential of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Diterpenes for Alzheimer's Disease. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2016
REVERSES BRAIN INSULIN RESISTANCE IN BRAIN NEURONS
(23) Feng HL, et al. Curcumin ameliorates insulin signalling pathway in brain of Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice. Int J Immunopathol. 2016 Jul 27
(24) Angeloni C, et al. Neuroprotective effect of sulforaphane against methylglyoxal cytotoxicity. Chem Res Toxicol, 2015 Jun 15