Strategies for the discovery of anti-aging compounds.
BACKGROUND
Life expectancy has increased across the globe and the number of aged people is increasing rapidly. With the rise in the average age of people, the prevalence of age related pathologies has also increased and thus the strategies to find anti-aging molecules assume significance. Anti-aging basically concerns the prevention or delaying the alterations taking place as a function of age which are manifested as age-associated illnesses.


METHODS
This review covers anti-aging strategies involving supplementation of dietary antioxidants such as polyphenols, vitamins E and C, lipoic acid, acetyl carnitine, carnosine and cysteine along with the application of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors and plasma membrane redox system activators. It also presents the use of different hormone supplementation, for example, melatonin, dehydroepiandrosterone, growth hormone and sex hormones as a tool against aging. The use of caloric restriction and calorie restriction mimetics as an anti-aging intervention is also reviewed.


RESULTS
The concept, use and efficacy of different anti-aging approaches.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a lot of research and sustained ongoing efforts, finding a viable anti-aging therapy which can extend the maximum human lifespan remains elusive. However, several interventions aimed towards a longer healthy life seem promising.
University of Allahabad, Department of Biochemistry, India. sirizvi@gmail.com
Syed Ibrahim
SI
Rizvi
Rashmi
R
Jha