Yellows - Activating FOXO Longevity Factors and Longevity Pathways

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.

• FLAVONOIDS - APGEININ & LUTEOLIN
• In a comprehensive study comparing flavonoids to antioxidative vitamins, determined that flavonoids are very potent activators of longevity factors, versus antioxidants. Antioxidants, including Vitamin C and E, did not trigger activation of any longevity factors.
• The flavonoids Apigenin and Luetolin were shown to be the most active longevity triggers of the flavonoids tested.
• Apigenin and Luteolin highly activate Nrf2, FOXO and PPARγ.

• EGCG (Green Tea)  - Life extending properties include upregulation of DAF-16 (the longevity factor equivalent to FOXO) and endogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD),
• ICARIIN (Epimedium) - Inihibits the pathway ISS (Insulin Signaling) which causes an activation of DAF-16 (analogous to FOXO). Also facilitates genome stability by reducing the DNA strand breaks.

•  MYRICETIN (Bayberry extract) - A longevity enhancing and mitochondrial activating flavonoid. Mitichondria activation improves respiration, endurance and activity levels by increasing the density of mitochondria. Myricetin positively impacts cellular mitochondria through activating PGC-1α and SIRT1. SIRT1 is believed to play a major role in mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy (mitichondrial turnover).3

 Other FOXO Activators and Longevity Pathways:

• TETRAHYDROCURCUMIN - A metabolite of curcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin has unque anti-aging properties including the activation of FOXO. In aging studies using Drosophila melanogaster , tetrahydrocurcumin extended the lifespan, by the involvement of both longevity factors FOXO and Sir2.
• CURCUMIN -  Increases lifespan in laboratory animals by affecting age-related genes. Enhances gene expression of endogenous antioxidant system, increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reducing lipid peroxidation.

YELLOW LONGEVITY

YELLOW NATURALLY

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. February 2009

(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;