We discovered six plant extracts that increase yeast chronological lifespan to a significantly greater extent than any of the presently known longevity-extending chemical compounds. One of these extracts is the most potent longevity-extending pharmacological intervention yet described. We show that each of the six plant extracts is a geroprotector which delays the onset and decreases the rate of yeast chronological aging by eliciting a hormetic stress response. We also show that each of these extracts has different effects on cellular processes that define longevity in organisms across phyla. These effects include the following: 1) increased mitochondrial respiration and membrane potential; 2) augmented or reduced concentrations of reactive oxygen species; 3) decreased oxidative damage to cellular proteins, membrane lipids, and mitochondrial and nuclear genomes; 4) enhanced cell resistance to oxidative and thermal stresses; and 5) accelerated degradation of neutral lipids deposited in lipid droplets. Our findings provide new insights into mechanisms through which chemicals extracted from certain plants can slow biological aging.

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In a quest for previously unknown geroprotective natural chemicals, we used a robust cell viability assay to search for commercially available plant extracts that can substantially prolong the chronological lifespan of budding yeast. Many of these plant extracts have been used in traditional Chinese and other herbal medicines or the Mediterranean and other customary diets. Our search led to a discovery of fifteen plant extracts that significantly extend the longevity of chronologically aging yeast not limited in calorie supply. We show that each of these longevity-extending plant extracts is a geroprotector that decreases the rate of yeast chronological aging and promotes a hormetic stress response. We also show that each of the fifteen geroprotective plant extracts mimics the longevity-extending, stress-protecting, metabolic and physiological effects of a caloric restriction diet but if added to yeast cultured under non-caloric restriction conditions. We provide evidence that the fifteen geroprotective plant extracts exhibit partially overlapping effects on a distinct set of longevity-defining cellular processes. These effects include a rise in coupled mitochondrial respiration, an altered age-related chronology of changes in reactive oxygen species abundance, protection of cellular macromolecules from oxidative damage, and an age-related increase in the resistance to long-term oxidative and thermal stresses.

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