Japanese scientists have found a method that may help slow the aging of the heart, and even restore some of the functions affected by advancing age.
A professor at the Faculty of Science at Japan’s Gakushuin University explained that, together with a group of colleagues at the university, he studied the substance “mitrobin,” derived from the natural compound berberine, to determine its effects on health. They tested its effects on laboratory mouse cells and found that it significantly improves the function of mitochondria, which act as the “power stations” inside cells and are responsible for producing energy in the body.
The professor said: “Our findings show that mitrobin helps slow the aging of cells associated with advancing age, including heart cells, leading to improved cardiac function.”
He added: “The number of mitochondria declines and their functions weaken with age, but our research showed that mitrobin boosts MITOL molecules, a mitochondrial quality control system whose levels decrease with age. Accordingly, mitrobin also enhances the ability of mitochondria to produce energy.”
He stressed “the need for further experiments to confirm whether the same effect occurs in humans,” noting that “the decline in mitochondrial function underlies many age-related diseases, and the success of this research could lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for aging.”
