Wolfberry Extract Helps Improve Age-Related Muscle Issues by Boosting DNA Repair

Jim Crocker
3rd August, 2024

Wolfberry Extract Helps Improve Age-Related Muscle Issues by Boosting DNA Repair

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by Jiangnan University found that an aqueous extract of wolfberry (AEW) improves muscle mass, strength, and endurance in aging mice
  • AEW reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, which are linked to aging-related muscle damage
  • AEW promotes DNA repair and decreases the activity of inflammatory genes, suggesting it could help maintain muscle health in the elderly
Aging can lead to significant degenerative changes in skeletal muscle, negatively impacting physical activity and quality of life for the elderly. A recent study by Jiangnan University explores the benefits and mechanisms of an aqueous extract of wolfberry (AEW) in protecting skeletal muscle from aging-related persistent DNA damage through its anti-inflammatory activity[1]. The study found that AEW improves muscle mass, strength, and endurance in aging mice. It modulates the expression of genes like Atrogin-1, MyH, and MuRF-1, which are crucial for muscle health. Additionally, AEW decreases oxidative stress and inflammation levels, consistent with in vitro results. Mechanistically, AEW inhibits the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) pathway induced by inflammatory gene activation, suggesting its potential role in responding to DNA damage. Moreover, AEW mitigates chromatin decompaction, a process linked to aging. Network pharmacology was used to analyze the potential targets of AEW in promoting DNA repair. The study concludes that AEW has anti-aging effects on skeletal muscle by promoting DNA repair and reducing the transcriptional activity of inflammatory factors. Therefore, AEW intake may become a potential strategy for strengthening skeletal muscle function in the elderly. This research aligns with earlier findings on the plasticity and regenerative capabilities of skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle shows high plasticity in response to external demand and can regenerate completely after injury due to muscle stem cells (MuSCs), also known as satellite cells[2]. These cells follow a tightly regulated myogenic program to generate new myofibers and MuSCs for future needs. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play a significant role in skeletal muscle physiology and regeneration. The redox regulation of MuSCs and their surrounding cell partners, such as macrophages and endothelial cells, is crucial during muscle regeneration in various contexts, including aging[2]. Aging causes degenerative changes such as epigenetic alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle. Exercise has been shown to upregulate muscle mitochondrial homeostasis and enhance antioxidant capacity, making it an effective treatment to prevent muscle aging. ROS play an essential role as signaling molecules in exercise-induced muscle mitochondrial health benefits, regulating gene expression via epigenetic mechanisms[3]. Exercise can reverse aging-induced changes in myokine expression by modulating epigenetic mechanisms, highlighting the importance of ROS in muscle health. The current study by Jiangnan University builds on these earlier findings by demonstrating that AEW can also modulate oxidative stress and inflammation, similar to the effects of exercise. This suggests that AEW could be a complementary strategy to traditional exercise in maintaining muscle health during aging. Furthermore, the development of an AI model for diagnosing sarcopenia, a condition characterized by muscle wasting due to aging, underscores the importance of early detection and intervention[4]. The AI model, DSnet-v1, uses transcriptome data to accurately diagnose sarcopenia, providing a valuable tool for healthcare providers. The potential of AEW to improve muscle function and mitigate aging-related muscle degeneration could be integrated into such diagnostic frameworks to offer comprehensive treatment strategies. In summary, the study from Jiangnan University provides valuable insights into the potential of AEW to protect skeletal muscle from aging-related damage. By promoting DNA repair and reducing inflammation, AEW offers a promising strategy for enhancing muscle function in the elderly. This research builds on existing knowledge of muscle plasticity, redox regulation, and the benefits of exercise, offering a holistic approach to combating muscle aging.

MedicineHealthBiochem

References

Main Study

1) Aqueous Extract of Wolfberry Alleviates Aging-Related Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction by Modulating PRRs Signaling Pathways and Enhancing DNA Repair.

Published 1st August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202400307

Related Studies

2) Redox Control of Skeletal Muscle Regeneration.

https://doi.org/10.1089/ars.2016.6782

3) Impact of Exercise and Aging on Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Skeletal Muscle: Roles of ROS and Epigenetics.

https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11132086

4) Artificial-intelligence-driven discovery of prognostic biomarker for sarcopenia.

https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12840


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