Longevity Extension by Phytochemicals

Abstract

Phytochemicals are structurally diverse secondary metabolites synthesized by plants and also by non-pathogenic endophytic microorganisms living within plants. Phytochemicals help plants to survive environmental stresses, protect plants from microbial infections and environmental pollutants, provide them with a defense from herbivorous organisms and attract natural predators of such organisms, as well as lure pollinators and other symbiotes of these plants. In addition, many phytochemicals can extend longevity in heterotrophic organisms across phyla via evolutionarily conserved mechanisms. In this review, we discuss such mechanisms. We outline how structurally diverse phytochemicals modulate a complex network of signaling pathways that orchestrate a distinct set of longevity-defining cellular processes. This review also reflects on how the release of phytochemicals by plants into a natural ecosystem may create selective forces that drive the evolution of longevity regulation mechanisms in heterotrophic organisms inhabiting this ecosystem. We outline the most important unanswered questions and directions for future research in this vibrant and rapidly evolving field.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized using pod extract of Cola nitida enhances antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition of Amaranthus caudatus Linn

“…Plants produce phytochemicals for survival, ecosystem adaptation, and defence when faced with environmental stress and infection by pathogenic organisms (Leonov et al 2015;Shah et al 2015). This suggests that for A. caudatus grown with AgNPs to tolerate the stress imposed by reconditioning the soil habitat due to the introduction of nanoparticles, it generated more phytochemicals for its survival and defence.…”

“…Phytochemicals have been reported to offer protection against cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes due to their anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic properties (Chandra et al 2014;Leonov et al 2015). Epidemiological studies have also strongly shown that consumption of vegetables positively correlated to prevention of degenerative diseases (Li et al 2015), while studies have established high correlation between antioxidant activity and phytochemicals of vegetables (Olajire and Azeez 2011).…”

“…Epidemiological studies have also strongly shown that consumption of vegetables positively correlated to prevention of degenerative diseases (Li et al 2015), while studies have established high correlation between antioxidant activity and phytochemicals of vegetables (Olajire and Azeez 2011). However, the composition and concentration of phytochemicals in vegetables are influenced by many factors, such as soil condition (chemical form, bioavailability and mobility), photosynthesis pigment contents and climatic conditions (Chandra et al 2014;Leonov et al 2015;Li et al 2015;Schlich and Hund-Rinke 2015). A novel way to improve the quantity and quality of phytochemicals in vegetables is through the intervention of nanobiotechnology, which was undertaken in this study.…”

“…Vegetables are good sources of natural antioxidants, such as carotenoids, vitamins, polyphenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins which are effective in quenching singlet oxygen and scavenging free radical, thereby preventing oxidation of biomolecules. This consequently prevents incidences of degenerative diseases like atherosclerosis, cancer and heart diseases (Olajire and Azeez 2011;Chandra et al 2014;Leonov et al 2015;Li et al 2015).…”

Anti-aging compounds in Latvian wild growing plant of Fallopia Japonica

“…One of the models, for longevity of human organisms are phytochemicals derived from plants. Phytochemicals may be from different classes: phenolic compounds, terpenes, polysulfides, quinones and polyamines (Leonov et al, 2015). One of the phytochemicals bioactive compounds that influence the human aging, is stilbene phytoalexin transresveratrol (trans-3,4′,5-trihydroxystilbene) ( (Fig.…”