The Role and Mechanism of Polysaccharides in Anti-Aging

Abstract

The elderly proportion of the population is gradually increasing, which poses a great burden to society, the economy, and the medical field. Aging is a physiological process involving multiple organs and numerous reactions, and therefore it is not easily explained or defined. At present, a growing number of studies are focused on the mechanisms of aging and potential strategies to delay aging. Some clinical drugs have been demonstrated to have anti-aging effects; however, many still have deficits with respect to safety and long-term use. Polysaccharides are natural and efficient biological macromolecules that act as antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and immune regulators. Not surprisingly, these molecules have recently gained attention for their potential use in anti-aging therapies. In fact, multiple polysaccharides have been found to have excellent anti-aging effects in different animal models including Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and mice. The anti-aging qualities of polysaccharides have been linked to several mechanisms, such as improved antioxidant capacity, regulation of age-related gene expression, and improved immune function. Here, we summarize the current findings from research related to anti-aging polysaccharides based on various models, with a focus on the main anti-aging mechanisms of oxidative damage, age-related genes and pathways, immune modulation, and telomere attrition. This review aims to provide a reference for further research on anti-aging polysaccharides.

The Relationship between Preparation and Biological Activities of Animal-Derived Polysaccharides: A Comprehensive Review

“…Aging is a progressive and irreversible functional decline involving multiple organs and numerous responses that occur in all organisms [ 88 ]. GAG is primarily located in the extracellular matrix and is synthesized via fibroblasts within dermal cells.…”

Antioxidant Compounds from Edible Mushrooms as Potential Candidates for Treating Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…In this regard, it is worth highlighting that most of the studies conducted to date on in vitro and in animal models that demonstrate the neuroprotective properties of mushrooms have been conducted on mushroom polysaccharides [169] (Table 1).…”

“…It has been reported that mushroom antioxidant compounds, due to their ability of increasing antioxidant defenses and counteract oxidative stress, may prevent age-related neurological diseases [165][166][167][168] (Figure 7). In this regard, it is worth highlighting that most of the studies conducted to date on in vitro and in animal models that demonstrate the neuroprotective properties of mushrooms have been conducted on mushroom polysaccharides [169] (Table 1).…”

Mechanism of Bazi Bushen capsule in delaying the senescence of mesenchymal stem cells based on network pharmacology and experimental validation

“…The decreased ability of adult stem cell populations to proliferate and regenerate is one of the main causes of the human ageing process [ 5 ]. Current anti-ageing drugs exhibit potent anti-ageing effects; however, some drawbacks remain regarding their safety and long-term use [ [9] , [10] , [11] ]. Therefore, it is necessary to find anti-ageing drugs that are not only safe and effective for longer usage periods.…”