The elixir of life? In a grape

An extract obtained from grape seeds could selectively kill and eliminate senescent cells, paving the way for a possible future life-extending drug. This was discovered by a group of Chinese researchers, authors of a study on mice published in ‘Nature Metabolism’. Under the lens of scientists at the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health (Sinh) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is procyanidin C1, a polyphenolic substance that could delay, alleviate or prevent age-associated diseases. The senescent cells, accumulating in the organism, represent the main cause of the pathologies linked to aging. Research conducted in recent years has indicated that eliminating these cells in mice can slow their premature aging and prolong their survival. The authors of the new study reviewed a number of natural products, finding that polyphenolic grape seed extract has specific effects on senescent cells in mouse models. The substance could specifically kill old cells in various organs and tissues, improve their physiological function and extend the life span of mice. Further experiments verified the extract’s efficacy and safety in killing senescent cells from mice in vivo, Sinh reports.