Geroprotectors

Authors:

Anisimov v. N., Skulachev v. P., Moskalev A.A.

History:

The ancient philosophers did not want to put up with aging and death. And the ancient alchemists strived to create an elixir of immortality. People were looking for aids to make life longer, or at least to provide healthy aging. At first they used herbs and roots; and with the progress of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, the scientists tended to fight aging at a molecular level. Therefore, up to date, it were discovered and studied more than 40 chemical geroprotectors.

Example:

Scientists have found that metformin and other biguanides reduce the total mortality rate by more than one third, as well as the mortality from heart attacks and complications from diabetes mellitus; improve the survival rate of cancer patients, and also reduce the risk of breast cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Description:

Geroprotectors (anti-aging drugs) — a common name for a group of substances possessing the ability to increase the lifespan of experimental animals and human.

Up to date, it were discovered and studied more than 40 chemical geroprotectors with declared efficacy. Among them the most famous are resveratrol, rapamycin, protein biosynthesis inhibitors (olivomycin, actinomycin), hormones (growth hormone, thyroid hormones, adrenocortical hormones, reproductive hormones, melatonin), biguanides (metformin, phenformin and others).

Among the mentioned geroprotectors metformindeserves a special attention. The results of studies on mammalian have led to the hypothesis that hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia are very important factors both in aging process and in cancer development.

In clinical observations it was found that metformin and other biguanides reduce the total mortality by more than one third, as well as the mortality from heart attacks and complications from diabetes mellitus, improve the survival rate of cancer patients and also reduce the risk of breast cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes. In experiments on laboratory rodents it was discovered a geroprotective effect of antidiabetic medicines, accompanied with decreasing of frequency of spontaneous tumours development. In different models of chemical and radiation carcinogenesis it was found that biguanides are able to slowdown the induced tumours development, and inhibit the growth of many transplanted tumours. 

Additions and Criticism:

Most authors take the view that until now there is no one chemical geroprotector with incontestable proven effect.

Publications:

• Anisimov, Vladimir N., et al. «If started early in life, metformin treatment increases life span and postpones tumors in female SHR mice." Aging (Albany NY) 3.2 (2011): 148.
• Morrison, John A., Elizabeth M. Cottingham, and Bruce A. Barton. «Metformin for weight loss in pediatric patients taking psychotropic drugs." American Journal of Psychiatry (2014).
• Rattan, Ramandeep, et al. «Metformin suppresses ovarian cancer growth and metastasis with enhancement of cisplatin cytotoxicity in vivo." Neoplasia 13.5 (2011): 483-IN28.