The Damask rose holds anti-aging potential

Researchers from Woosuk University and Dankook University in South Korea have found a compound in the Damask rose (Rosa × damascena) that can target the aging process. The study, published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, investigated the anti-aging properties of damaurone D (DaD) – a derivative of Damask rose – using animal model Caenorhabditis elegans (roundworm).

• The effects of DaD on longevity were examined using a lifespan assay.
• Expression levels for biomarkers for stress proteins were determined using fluorescence intensity of transgenic mutants.
• In addition, researchers assessed DaD target genes using a genetic study of single gene knockout mutants.
• The team noted that DaD treatments improved the lifespan of C. elegans by 16.7 percent under normal conditions.
• Based on stress tests, DaD also improved stress endurance under thermal, osmotic, and oxidative stress conditions.
• According to researchers, the antioxidant capacity of DaD and its effect on stress-response proteins could explain its longevity-promoting effect.
• DaD also improved food intake, body length, lipofuscin accumulation, and age?dependent decline of the motor ability of C. elegans.

The authors concluded that DaD contained longevity benefits and could be further developed into nutraceuticals that target aging and its related diseases.

Learn about natural ways to live longer and healthier at Longevity.news.

Journal Reference:

Kim YS, Han YT, Jeon H, Cha DS. ANTIAGEING PROPERTIES OF DAMAURONE D IN CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2018;70(10):1423–1429. DOI: 10.1111/jphp.12979