Reversal of brain aging by targeting telomerase: A nutraceutical approach

Rolling Circle Amplification Integrating with Exonuclease-III-Assisted Color Reaction for Sensitive Telomerase Activity Analysis

Telomerase activation can lead to the escape from cell senescence and immortalization, playing a crucial role in the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Therefore, the detection of telomerase activity is essential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Herein, we develop a novel ultrasensitive and visually detectable platform. By incorporation of exonuclease-III (Exo-III), this platform achieves dual signal amplification of rolling circle amplification products. Additionally, the colorimetric analysis of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbiphenyl (TMB) chromogenic reaction system provides this approach with unique advantages such as simplicity, speediness, and sensitivity. The detection platform exhibits high sensitivity and specificity in actual sample testing, which aligns closely with results obtained using commercial kits. Moreover, it offers ease-of-use through visual determination by the naked eyes. This finding indicates that our proposed sensing method performs satisfactorily in detecting telomerase in real biological samples. Henceforth, we believe that this sensing platform holds great potential for clinical diagnosis and anticancer drug development.

Pharmacotherapeutic Considerations on Telomere Biology: The Positive Effect of Pharmacologically Active Substances on Telomere Length

Telomeres are part of chromatin structures containing repeated DNA sequences, which function as protective caps at the ends of chromosomes and prevent DNA degradation and recombination, thus ensuring the integrity of the genome. While telomere length (TL) can be genetically inherited, TL shortening has been associated with ageing and multiple xenobiotics and bioactive substances. TL has been characterised as a reliable biomarker for the predisposition to developing chronic pathologies and their progression. This narrative review aims to provide arguments in favour of including TL measurements in a complex prognostic and diagnostic panel of chronic pathologies and the importance of assessing the effect of different pharmacologically active molecules on the biology of telomeres. Medicines used in the management of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, schizophrenia, hormone replacement therapy at menopause, danazol, melatonin, and probiotics have been studied for their positive protective effects against TL shortening. All these classes of drugs are analysed in the present review, with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms involved.

A novel nutraceutical formulation increases telomere length and activates telomerase activity in middle‑aged rats

Telomeres are major contributors to cell fate and aging through their involvement in cell cycle arrest and senescence. The accelerated attrition of telomeres is associated with aging‑related diseases, and agents able to maintain telomere length (TL) through telomerase activation may serve as potential treatment strategies. The aim of the present study was to assess the potency of a novel telomerase activator on TL and telomerase activity in vivo. The administration of a nutraceutical formulation containing Centella asiatica extract, vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D3 in 18‑month‑old rats for a period of 3 months reduced the telomere shortening rate at the lower supplement dose and increased mean the TL at the higher dose, compared to pre‑treatment levels. TL was determined using the Q‑FISH method in peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from the tail vein of the rats and cultured with RPMI‑1640 medium. In both cases, TLs were significantly longer compared to the untreated controls (P≤0.001). In addition, telomerase activity was increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of both treatment groups. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the nutraceutical formulation can maintain or even increase TL and telomerase activity in middle‑aged rats, indicating a potential role of this formula in the prevention and treatment of aging‑related diseases.

Role of Telomeres and Telomerase in Parkinson's Disease-A New Theranostics?

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex condition that is significantly influenced by oxidative stress and inflammation. It is also suggested that telomere shortening (TS) is regulated by oxidative stress which leads to various diseases including age-related neurodegenerative diseases like PD. Thus, it is anticipated that PD would result in TS of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Telomeres protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes preserving them against fusion and destruction. The TS is a normal process because DNA polymerase is unable to replicate the linear ends of the DNA due to end replication complications and telomerase activity in various cell types counteracts this process. PD is usually observed in the aged population and progresses over time therefore, disparities among telomere length in PBMCs of PD patients are recorded and it is still a question whether it has any useful role. Here, the likelihood of telomere attrition in PD and its implications concerning microglia activation, ageing, oxidative stress, and the significance of telomerase activators are addressed. Also, the possibility of telomeres and telomerase as a diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker in PD is discussed.

Association of Dietary Vitamin C Consumption with Serum Klotho Concentrations

BACKGROUND

Klotho is widely recognized as a protein that combats aging and possesses antioxidative characteristics, which have been implicated in the pathophysiology of numerous diseases. There is emerging evidence suggesting that the consumption of dietary nutrients, particularly those rich in antioxidants, could be associated with serum Klotho concentrations. Dietary vitamin C is one of the critical nutrients that possesses antioxidant properties. Nonetheless, the association between dietary vitamin C consumption and serum Klotho concentrations remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

Aiming to evaluate the relationship between serum Klotho concentrations and dietary vitamin C consumption among Americans aged 40 to 79, we conducted a population-based study.

METHODS

From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2007 and 2016, a grand total of 11,282 individuals who met the criteria were selected as eligible participants for the study. Serum Klotho concentrations were measured using an ELISA kit that is commercially available. Trained interviewers evaluated the consumption of dietary vitamin C in the diet through a 24-hour dietary recall technique. A generalized linear model was used to evaluate the correlation between the consumption of dietary vitamin C in the diet and serum Klotho concentrations. Further examination was conducted using restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis to explore the non-linear correlation between dietary vitamin C consumption in the diet and serum Klotho concentrations.

RESULTS

After accounting for possible confounding factors, serum Klotho concentrations rose by 1.17% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37%, 1.99%) with every standard deviation (SD) rise in dietary vitamin C consumption. With the first quintile of dietary vitamin C consumption as a reference, the percentage change of serum Klotho concentrations in the fifth quintile of dietary vitamin C consumption was 3.66% higher (95% CI: 1.05%, 6.32%). In older, normal-weight, and male participants, the subgroup analysis revealed a stronger correlation between dietary vitamin C consumption and serum Klotho concentrations. Analysis of RCS showed a linear positive association between dietary vitamin C consumption and the levels of serum Klotho concentrations.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this research indicate a strong and positive correlation between dietary vitamin C consumption and serum Klotho concentrations among the general adult population in the United States. Further studies are needed to validate the present findings and to explore specific mechanisms.

Telomere length as a predictive biomarker in osteoporosis (Review)

Telomeres are the ends of chromosomes that protect them from DNA damage. There is evidence to suggest that telomere shortening appears with advanced age. Since aging is a significant risk factor for developing age-related complications, it is plausible that telomere shortening may be involved in the development of osteoporosis. The present review summarizes the potential of telomere shortening as a biomarker for detecting the onset of osteoporosis. For the purposes of the present review, the following scientific databases were searched for relevant articles: PubMed/NCBI, Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar. The present review includes randomized and non-randomized controlled studies and case series involving humans, irrespective of the time of their publication. In six out of the 11 included studies providing data on humans, there was at least a weak association between telomere length and osteoporosis, with the remaining studies exhibiting no such association. As a result, telomere shortening may be used as a biomarker or as part of a panel of biomarkers for tracking the onset and progression of osteoporosis.

Quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucuronide in the Nuciferine Leaf Polyphenol Extract Promotes Neurogenesis Involving the Upregulation of the Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase (Trk) Receptor and AKT/Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Signaling Pathway

Neurogenesis is crucial during the human lifespan for the maintenance of synaptic plasticity and normal function. The impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis in adults may lead to neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease. Miquelianin (quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucuronide, Q3GA) is a constituent of the nuciferine leaf polyphenol extract (NLPE), and it has protective effects against neurodegeneration. In this study, we examined the effect of the NLPE on neurogenesis and the mechanisms underlying Q3GA on neurogenesis. We fed 24-week-old male C57BL/6 mice with 0.1 or 0.25% NLPE for 2 weeks. NLPE treatment increased small spindle-shaped stem cell numbers in the subgranular zone and the number of doublecortin (DCX)- and neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN)-expressing neurons. HT22, a hippocampal cell line, treated with Q3GA revealed significant neurite growth and upregulated TrkR and PI3K/Akt levels. The evidence from a model of retinoic acid-induced SH-SY5Y cell differentiation showed that Q3GA or NLPE increases neurite growth significantly. Taken together, the NLPE containing Q3GA to promote neurogenesis involving the upregulation of TrkR and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway might be potentiated as an alternative strategy for the treatment of neurodegeneration.

Phenolic compounds as Nrf2 inhibitors: potential applications in cancer therapy

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and involves an oxidative stress mechanism. The transcription factor Nrf2 has a crucial role in cytoprotective response against oxidative stress, including cancer growth and progression and therapy resistance. For this reason, inhibitors of Nrf2 are new targets to be studied. Traditional plant-based remedies rich in phytochemicals have been used against human cancers and phenolic compounds are known for their chemopreventive properties. This comprehensive review offers an updated review of the role of phenolic compounds as anticancer agents due to their action on Nrf2 inhibition. In addition, the role of naturally-occurring bioactive anticancer agents are covered in the clinical applications of polyphenols as Nrf2 inhibitors. Video Abstract.

Rosmarinic acid and its derivatives: Current insights on anticancer potential and other biomedical applications

Cancer is still the leading cause of death worldwide, burdening the global medical system. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is among the first secondary metabolites discovered and it is a bioactive compound identified in plants such as Boraginaceae and Nepetoideae subfamilies of the Lamiaceae family, including Thymus masticmasti chinaythia koreana, Ocimum sanctum, and Hyptis pectinate. This updated review is to highlight the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects of RA and its derivatives, thus providing valuable clues for the potential development of some complementary drugs in the treatment of cancers. Relevant information about RA's chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects and its derivatives were collected from electronic scientific databases, such as PubMed/Medline, Scopus, TRIP database, Web of Science, and Science Direct. The results of the studies showed numerous significant biological effects such as antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, antioxidant and antiangiogenic effects. Most of the studies on the anticancer potential with the corresponding mechanisms are still in the experimental preclinical stage and are missing evidence from clinical trials to support the research. To open new anticancer therapeutic perspectives of RA and its derivatives, future clinical studies must elucidate the molecular mechanisms and targets of action in more detail, the human toxic potential and adverse effects.

Telomerase reverse transcriptase and neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are chronic conditions that result in progressive damage to the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Age is a major risk factor for NDs. Telomere shortening is a biological marker of cellular aging, and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has been shown to slow down this process by maintaining telomere length. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) makes the brain a unique immune organ, and while the number of T cells present in the central nervous system is limited, they play an important role in NDs. Research suggests that NDs can be influenced by modulating peripheral T cell immune responses, and that TERT may play a significant role in T cell senescence and NDs. This review focuses on the current state of research on TERT in NDs and explores the potential connections between TERT, T cells, and NDs. Further studies on aging and telomeres may provide valuable insights for developing therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.

A comprehensive review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle: current landscape and future perspectives

Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle is commonly known as Himalayan paeony has great importance as a food and medicine. The practice of Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle is very ancient and it is conventionally used for a wide range of illnesses in the folk system of medicine because of its wide beneficial phytochemical profile. The main purpose of the current review was the synthesis of recent data on botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and potential pharmacological mechanisms of action of Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle, thus offering new prospects for the development of new adjuvant natural therapies. Using scientific databases such as PubMed/MedLine, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Springer, and Wiley, a comprehensive literature search was performed for Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle. For searching, we used the next MeSH terms: "Biological Product/isolation and purification", "Biological Products/pharmacology", "Drug Discovery/methods", "Ethnopharmacology, Medicine", "Traditional/methods", "Paeonia/chemistry", "Plant Extracts/pharmacology", "Phytochemicals/chemistry", "Phytochemicals/pharmacology", "Plants, Medicinal". The results of the most recent studies were analyzed and the most important data were summarized in tables and figures. Phytochemical research of Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle has led to the isolation of triterpenes, monoterpenes, phenolic acids, fatty acids, organic compounds, steroids, free radicals and some other classes of primary metabolites. In addition, diverse pharmacological activities like antibacterial, antifungal, anticoagulant, airway relaxant lipoxygenase and beta-glucuronidase inhibiting activity, radical scavenging activity, phytotoxic and insecticidal activities have been reported for Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle. Different bioactive compounds of Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle has proven their therapeutic potential in modern pharmacological and biomedical research to cure numerous gastrointestinal and nervous disorders. In future, further in vitro and in vivo therapeutic studies are required to identify new mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics studies, and new pharmaceutical formulations for target transport and possible interaction with allopathic drugs. Also, new research regarding quality evaluation, toxicity and safety data in humans is needed.

Ovarian rescue in women with premature ovarian insufficiency: facts and fiction

The ovary has a comparatively short functional lifespan compared with other organs, and genetic and pathological injuries can further shorten its functional life. Thus, preserving ovarian function should be considered in the context of women with threats to ovarian reserve, such as ageing, premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Indeed, one-third of women with POI retain resting follicles that can be reactivated to produce competent oocytes, as proved by the in-vitro activation of dormant follicles. This paper discusses mechanisms and clinical data relating to new therapeutic strategies using ovarian fragmentation, stem cells or platelet-rich plasma to regain ovarian function in women of older age (>38 years) or with POI or DOR. Follicle reactivation techniques show promising experimental outcomes and have been successful in some cases, when POI is established or DOR diagnosed; however, there is scarce clinical evidence to warrant their widespread clinical use. Beyond these contexts, also discussed is how new insights into the biological mechanisms governing follicular dynamics and oocyte competence may play a role in reversing ovarian damage, as no technique modifies oocyte quality. Additional studies should focus on increasing follicle number and quality. Finally, there is a small but important subgroup of women lacking residual follicles and requiring oocyte generation from stem cells.

The Vitamin D Receptor as a Potential Target for the Treatment of Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases Such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases: A Narrative Review

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors. The VDR is expressed in diverse brain regions and has been implicated in the neuroprotective, antiaging, prosurvival, and anti-inflammatory action of vitamin D. Accordingly, a relationship between vitamin D insufficiency and susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases has been suggested. However, due to the multitargeted mechanisms of vitamin D and its often overlapping genomic and nongenomic effects, the role of the VDR in brain pathologies remains obscure. In this narrative review, we present progress in deciphering the molecular mechanism of nuclear VDR-mediated vitamin D effects on prosurvival and anti-inflammatory signaling pathway activity within the central nervous system. In line with the concept of the neurovascular unit in pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, a discussion of the role of the VDR in regulating the immune and vascular brain systems is also included. Next, we discuss the results of preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the significance of vitamin D status and the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, emphasizing the possible role of the VDR in these phenomena. Finally, the associations of some VDR polymorphisms with higher risks and severity of these neurodegenerative disorders are briefly summarized.

Association between dietary vitamin C and telomere length: A cross-sectional study

Background

Currently, telomere length is known to reflect the replication potential and longevity of cells, and many studies have reported that telomere length is associated with age-related diseases and biological aging. Studies have also shown that vitamin C acts as an oxidant and free radical scavenger to protect cells from oxidative stress and telomere wear, thus achieving anti-aging effects. At present, there are few and incomplete studies on the relationship between vitamin C and telomere length, so this study aims to explore the relationship between vitamin C and telomere length.

Methods

This study used cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) database from 1999 to 2002, a total of 7,094 participants were selected from all races in the United States. Male participants accounted for 48.2% and female participants accounted for 51.8%. The correlation between vitamin C and telomere length was assessed using a multiple linear regression model, and the effect of dietary vitamin C on telomere length was obtained after adjusting for confounding factors such as age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), and poverty income ratio (PIR).

Results

This cross-sectional study showed that vitamin C was positively correlated with telomere length, with greater dietary vitamin C intake associated with longer telomeres (β = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01-0.05, P = 0.003).

Conclusion

This study shows that vitamin C intake is positively correlated with human telomere length, which is of guiding significance for our clinical guidance on people's health care, but our study need to be confirmed by more in-depth and comprehensive other research results.

Recent advances in the therapeutic potential of emodin for human health

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is a bioactive compound, a natural anthraquinone aglycone, present mainly in herbaceous species of the families Fabaceae, Polygonaceae and Rhamnaceae, with a physiological role in protection against abiotic stress in vegetative tissues. Emodin is mainly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat sore throats, carbuncles, sores, blood stasis, and damp-heat jaundice. Pharmacological research in the last decade has revealed other potential therapeutic applications such as anticancer, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The present study aimed to summarize recent studies on bioavailability, preclinical pharmacological effects with evidence of molecular mechanisms, clinical trials and clinical pitfalls, respectively the therapeutic limitations of emodin. For this purpose, extensive searches were performed using the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google scholar, TRIP database, Springer link, Wiley and SciFinder databases as a search engines. The in vitro and in vivo studies included in this updated review highlighted the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of emodin. Because its bioavailability is low, there are limitations in clinical therapeutic use. In conclusion, for an increase in pharmacotherapeutic efficacy, future studies with carrier molecules to the target, thus opening up new therapeutic perspectives.

Recent updates on anticancer mechanisms of polyphenols

In today’s scenario, when cancer cases are increasing rapidly, anticancer herbal compounds become imperative. Studies on the molecular mechanisms of action of polyphenols published in specialized databases such as Web of Science, Pubmed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Science Direct were used as sources of information for this review. Natural polyphenols provide established efficacy against chemically induced tumor growth with fewer side effects. They can sensitize cells to various therapies and increase the effectiveness of biotherapy. Further pharmacological translational research and clinical trials are needed to evaluate theirs in vivo efficacy, possible side effects and toxicity. Polyphenols can be used to design a potential treatment in conjunction with existing cancer drug regimens such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Eryngium caeruleum: an update on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and biomedical applications

BACKGROUND

A biennial or perennial plant of the Apiaceae family, Eryngium caeruleum M. Bieb. is traditionally used in medicine as an antitoxic, diuretic, digestive, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug. This plant is widely distributed in temperate regions around the world. Young leaves of the plant are used in cooking as aromatic cooked vegetables in various local products in Iran.

PURPOSE

The current review aimed to highlight complete and updated information about the Eryngium caeruleum species, regarding botanical, ethnopharmacological, phytochemical data, pharmacological mechanisms as well as some nutritional properties. All this scientific evidence supports the use of this species in complementary medicine, thus opening new therapeutic perspectives for the treatment of some diseases.

METHODS

The information provided in this updated review is collected from several scientific databases such as PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, Mendeley, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Ethnopharmacology books and various professional websites were also researched.

RESULTS

The phytochemical composition of the aerial parts and roots of E. caeruleum is represented by the components of essential oil (EO), phenolic compounds, saponins, protein, amino acids, fiber, carbohydrates, and mineral elements. The antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antihypoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties of E. caeruleum have been confirmed by pharmacological experiments with extracts using in vitro and in vivo methods. The syrup E. caeruleum relieved dysmenorrhea as effectively as Ibuprofen in the blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study.

CONCLUSION

Current evidence from experimental pharmacological studies has shown that the different bioactive compounds present in the species E. caeruleum have multiple beneficial effects on human health, being potentially active in the treatment of many diseases. Thus, the traditional uses of this species are supported based on evidence. In future, translational and human clinical studies are necessary to establish effective therapeutic doses in humans.

Multi-Target Mechanisms of Phytochemicals in Alzheimer’s Disease: Effects on Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation and Protein Aggregation

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a tangle-shaped accumulation of beta-amyloid peptide fragments and Tau protein in brain neurons. The pathophysiological mechanism involves the presence of Aβ-amyloid peptide, Tau protein, oxidative stress, and an exacerbated neuro-inflammatory response. This review aims to offer an updated compendium of the most recent and promising advances in AD treatment through the administration of phytochemicals. The literature survey was carried out by electronic search in the following specialized databases PubMed/Medline, Embase, TRIP database, Google Scholar, Wiley, and Web of Science regarding published works that included molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways targeted by phytochemicals in various experimental models of Alzheimer’s disease in vitro and in vivo. The results of the studies showed that the use of phytochemicals against AD has gained relevance due to their antioxidant, anti-neuroinflammatory, anti-amyloid, and anti-hyperphosphorylation properties of Tau protein. Some bioactive compounds from plants have been shown to have the ability to prevent and stop the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Pharmacological effects and therapeutic potential of natural compounds in neuropsychiatric disorders: An update

Neuropsychiatric diseases are a group of disorders that cause significant morbidity and disability. The symptoms of psychiatric disorders include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder. Various medicinal plants are frequently used as therapeutics in traditional medicine in different parts of the world. Nowadays, using medicinal plants as an alternative medication has been considered due to their biological safety. Despite the wide range of medications, many patients are unable to tolerate the side effects and eventually lose their response. By considering the therapeutic advantages of medicinal plants in the case of side effects, patients may prefer to use them instead of chemical drugs. Today, the use of medicinal plants in traditional medicine is diverse and increasing, and these plants are a precious heritage for humanity. Investigation about traditional medicine continues, and several studies have indicated the basic pharmacology and clinical efficacy of herbal medicine. In this article, we discuss five of the most important and common psychiatric illnesses investigated in various studies along with conventional therapies and their pharmacological therapies. For this comprehensive review, data were obtained from electronic databases such as MedLine/PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, EMBASE, DynaMed Plus, ScienceDirect, and TRIP database. Preclinical pharmacology studies have confirmed that some bioactive compounds may have beneficial therapeutic effects in some common psychiatric disorders. The mechanisms of action of the analyzed biocompounds are presented in detail. The bioactive compounds analyzed in this review are promising phytochemicals for adjuvant and complementary drug candidates in the pharmacotherapy of neuropsychiatric diseases. Although comparative studies have been carefully reviewed in the preclinical pharmacology field, no clinical studies have been found to confirm the efficacy of herbal medicines compared to FDA-approved medicines for the treatment of mental disorders. Therefore, future clinical studies are needed to accelerate the potential use of natural compounds in the management of these diseases.

Tea Polyphenols as Prospective Natural Attenuators of Brain Aging

No organism can avoid the process of aging, which is often accompanied by chronic disease. The process of biological aging is driven by a series of interrelated mechanisms through different signal pathways, including oxidative stress, inflammatory states, autophagy and others. In addition, the intestinal microbiota play a key role in regulating oxidative stress of microglia, maintaining homeostasis of microglia and alleviating age-related diseases. Tea polyphenols can effectively regulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota. In recent years, the potential anti-aging benefits of tea polyphenols have attracted increasing attention because they can inhibit neuroinflammation and prevent degenerative effects in the brain. The interaction between human neurological function and the gut microbiota suggests that intervention with tea polyphenols is a possible way to alleviate brain-aging. Studies have been undertaken into the possible mechanisms underpinning the preventative effect of tea polyphenols on brain-aging mediated by the intestinal microbiota. Tea polyphenols may be regarded as potential neuroprotective substances which can act with high efficiency and low toxicity.

Lamin A and telomere maintenance in aging: Two to Tango

Lamin proteins which constitute the nuclear lamina in almost all higher eukaryotes, are mainly of two types A & B encoded by LMNA and LMNB1/B2 genes respectively. While lamin A remains the principal product of LMNA gene, variants like lamin C, C2 and A∆10 are also formed as alternate splice products. Role of lamin A in aging has been highlighted in recent times due to its association with progeroid or premature aging syndromes which is classified as a type of laminopathy. Progeria caused by accelerated accumulation of lamin A Δ50 or progerin occurs due to a mutation in this LMNA gene leading to defects in post translational modification of lamin A. One of the most common and severe symptoms of progeroid laminopathy is accelerated cellular senescence or aging along with bone resorption, muscle weakness, lipodystrophy and cardiovascular disorders. On the other hand, progerin accumulation and telomere dysfunction merge as common traits in the process of chronological aging. Two major hallmarks of physiological aging in humans include loss of genomic integrity and telomere attrition which can result from defective laminar organization leading to deformed nuclear architecture and culminates into replicative senescence. This also adversely affects epigenetic landscape, mitochondrial dysfunction and several signalling pathways like DNA repair, mTOR, MAPK, TGFβ. In this review, we discuss the telomere-lamina interplay in the context of physiological aging and progeria.

The role of Tumour Necrosis Factor in neuroinflammation associated with Parkinson's disease and targeted therapies

Neurodegenerative disorders Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with neuroinflammatory responses that lead to the neurodegeneration of the dopaminergic neurons. These neuroinflammatory mechanisms involve various cytokines produced by the activated glial cells. Tumour Necrosis factor α (TNF α) is one of the major mediators of the neuroinflammation associated with neurodegeneration. TNF α has a dual role of neuroprotection and neurotoxicity in the brain. The effective pathways of TNF involve various signalling pathways transduced by the receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2. Effective therapeutic strategies have been produced targeting the neurotoxic behaviour of the Tumour Necrosis Factor and the associated neurodegeneration which includes the use of Dominant Negative Tumour Necrosis Factor (DN-TNF) inhibitors like XENP 345 and XPro®1595 and peroxisome proliferator receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonists.

Τelomerase inhibitors and activators in aging and cancer: A systematic review

The main aim of the present systematic review was to summarize the most frequently used telomerase regulators with an impact on aging and cancer that are referred to in in vitro and in vivo studies. For this purpose, a systematic review of the available literature on telomerase regulators referred to in articles from PubMed and Scopus libraries published from 2002 to 2021 and in accordance with PRISMA 2020 criteria, was conducted. Articles were included if they met the following criteria: They referred to telomerase modulators in aging and in cancer and were in vitro and/or in vivo studies, while studies that did not provide sufficient data or studies not written in English were excluded. In the present systematic review, 54 publications were included, of which 29 were full‑text published studies, 11 were full‑text reviews, 10 structure‑based design studies and 4 abstracts are reported in this review. Telomerase regulators were then categorized as synthetic direct telomerase inhibitors, synthetic indirect telomerase inhibitors, synthetic telomerase activators, natural direct telomerase activators, natural telomerase inhibitors and natural indirect telomerase activators, according to their origin and their activity. On the whole, as demonstrated herein, telomerase regulators appear to be promising treatment agents in various age‑related diseases. However, further in vivo and in vitro studies need to be performed in order to clarify the potentiality of telomerase as a therapeutic target.

The Transcriptome and Methylome of the Developing and Aging Brain and Their Relations to Gliomas and Psychological Disorders

Mutually linked expression and methylation dynamics in the brain govern genome regulation over the whole lifetime with an impact on cognition, psychological disorders, and cancer. We performed a joint study of gene expression and DNA methylation of brain tissue originating from the human prefrontal cortex of individuals across the lifespan to describe changes in cellular programs and their regulation by epigenetic mechanisms. The analysis considers previous knowledge in terms of functional gene signatures and chromatin states derived from independent studies, aging profiles of a battery of chromatin modifying enzymes, and data of gliomas and neuropsychological disorders for a holistic view on the development and aging of the brain. Expression and methylation changes from babies to elderly adults decompose into different modes associated with the serial activation of (brain) developmental, learning, metabolic and inflammatory functions, where methylation in gene promoters mostly represses transcription. Expression of genes encoding methylome modifying enzymes is very diverse reflecting complex regulations during lifetime which also associates with the marked remodeling of chromatin between permissive and restrictive states. Data of brain cancer and psychotic disorders reveal footprints of pathophysiologies related to brain development and aging. Comparison of aging brains with gliomas supports the view that glioblastoma-like and astrocytoma-like tumors exhibit higher cellular plasticity activated in the developing healthy brain while oligodendrogliomas have a more stable differentiation hierarchy more resembling the aged brain. The balance and specific shifts between volatile and stable and between more irreversible and more plastic epigenomic networks govern the development and aging of healthy and diseased brain.

The Pharmacological Activities of Crocus sativus L.: A Review Based on the Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities of its Phytoconstituents

Crocus species are mainly distributed in North Africa, Southern and Central Europe, and Western Asia, used in gardens and parks as ornamental plants, while Crocus sativus L. (saffron) is the only species that is cultivated for edible purpose. The use of saffron is very ancient; besides the use as a spice, saffron has long been known also for its medical and coloring qualities. Due to its distinctive flavor and color, it is used as a spice, which imparts food preservative activity owing to its antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. This updated review discusses the biological properties of Crocus sativus L. and its phytoconstituents, their pharmacological activities, signaling pathways, and molecular targets, therefore highlighting it as a potential herbal medicine. Clinical studies regarding its pharmacologic potential in clinical therapeutics and toxicity studies were also reviewed. For this updated review, a search was performed in the PubMed, Science, and Google Scholar databases using keywords related to Crocus sativus L. and the biological properties of its phytoconstituents. From this search, only the relevant works were selected. The phytochemistry of the most important bioactive compounds in Crocus sativus L. such as crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, and safranal and also dozens of other compounds was studied and identified by various physicochemical methods. Isolated compounds and various extracts have proven their pharmacological efficacy at the molecular level and signaling pathways both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, toxicity studies and clinical trials were analyzed. The research results highlighted the various pharmacological potentials such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antidepressant, hypolipidemic, and antihyperglycemic properties and protector of retinal lesions. Due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, saffron has proven effective as a natural food preservative. Starting from the traditional uses for the treatment of several diseases, the bioactive compounds of Crocus sativus L. have proven their effectiveness in modern pharmacological research. However, pharmacological studies are needed in the future to identify new mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic studies, new pharmaceutical formulations for target transport, and possible interaction with allopathic drugs.