Pterostilbene- Pterostilbene can target inflammaging at a cellular level and contribute to a healthy epigenome and DNA stability.
Pterostilbene is a natural molecule found in fruits, vegetables and nuts. Blueberries are often quoted as one of the richest sources of pterostilbene. It is part of the stilbene group of compounds and the main antioxidant component of blueberries. In plants, it serves a defensive antimicrobial and often antioxidative role.
It was first discovered in 1977 by Langcake and Pryce and has been studied for its antioxidant properties and potential health benefits .
Pterostilbene is chemically related to resveratrol, another popular dietary supplement; some studies suggest that it may be more useful for health than its close relation, sometimes giving rise to the suggestion that it may be a “better resveratrol”.
Pterostilbene is part of a class of polyphenolic substances called stilbenes, which also includes resveratrol and piceatannol.
Pterostilbene versus resveratrol
Pterostilbene and its more famous cousin resveratrol are very similar molecules.?
Not so long ago, resveratrol came into the scientific and public spotlight as an anti-aging substance, given early studies showed that resveratrol extended lifespan in various animals .You may have seen the press enthusiastically — though erroneously — claim that red wine could extend lifespan because it contains (very small amounts of) resveratrol. The claim was based on resveratrol. However, recent studies have shown that resveratrol doesn’t extend lifespan.?
One of the potential explanations for this is that resveratrol is broken down very quickly. Resveratrol circulates for only a very short period of time in the body: its half-life is only 14 minutes, meaning that after only 14 minutes, half of the resveratrol is eliminated by the body.?
Pterostilbene, on the other hand, stays in the body far longer. This is because pterostilbene contains only one hydroxyl group, compared to the three hydroxyl groups of resveratrol. Hydroxyl groups make it much easier for the body to get rid of a molecule.?
Also, pterostilbene is considerably better absorbed by the gut compared to resveratrol. Pterostilbene has a bioavailability of about 80 percent, compared to 20 percent for resveratrol.?
Given the various shortcomings of resveratrol, scientists are looking at better alternatives, like pterostilbene, or artificial lab-made resveratrol-based analogues, such as SIRT2104 .?
Pterostilbene and aging
Many studies demonstrate beneficial effects of pterostilbene on health and the aging process.?
To start, pterostilbene reduces oxidative stress. In animals, pterostilbene upregulates powerful antioxidant enzymes in cells, like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase . Upregulating the body’s own internal antioxidant defense mechanisms is much better than taking extraneous antioxidant supplements orally, as we explained in our?blog post?about antioxidants and longevity.?
Pterostilbene can also reduce inflammaging (low-grade, aging-related inflammation) by various mechanisms, like by inhibiting COX (cyclooxygenase) enzymes which produce inflammatory compounds .
Pterostilbene can also improve DNA repair .?
Pterostilbene is an autophagy inducer . Autophagy is the process that clears up cellular waste that accumulates in the cells. During aging, autophagy is reduced. Pterostilbene can also activate AMPK, an important energy sensor in the cells, which in turn inhibits mTOR, a strong inhibitor of autophagy.?
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Pterostilbene induces epigenetic changes. Pterostilbene can activate sirtuins, such as SIRT1. Sirtuins are proteins that repair DNA damage and improve metabolic functioning, leading to increased mitochondrial biogenesis (more production of mitochondria) and extended lifespan .?
Pterostilbene can also improve brain functioning and protect the brain. This can be achieved, for example, by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and CREB. Various animal studies demonstrated that pterostilbene improves cognitive function, especially working memory , and can reduce the effects of aging on the brain.?
Pterostilbene Impacts Aging Via
Potential pterostilbene benefits
Various studies have demonstrated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory , and anticarcinogenic properties of pterostilbene, which has led to the improved function of healthy cells and the inhibition of malignant cells 。
Pterostilbene has been implicated in cardiovascular health. with one study showing that it has a protective effect against atherosclerosis and another showing that it improves aspects of autophagy and helps to counteract the pro-atherosclerosis effect of oxidized low-density lipoprotein on vascular endothelial cells. It has also demonstrated potential utility in treating ischemia-reperfusion injury .
Studies have also shown the potential of pterostilbene in relation to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. A study on mice with accelerated aging showed that pterostilbene, even in low doses, has a significant effect on improving cognitive ability.
Another study suggests that pterostilbene is involved in neural plasticity and its associated cognitive and motor functions and that rats given pterostilbene perform better in cognitive tests .
Pterostilbene is a powerful anti-inflammatory and can suppress NF-Kb, a protein complex that regulates the transcription of DNA, cytokine production and cell survival. A recent study showed that pterostilbene can potentially treat severe acute pancreatitis by reducing serum levels of inflammatory TNF-a, IL-1b, and NF-kB and that it reduces the generation of reactive oxygen species.
Pterostilbene also has some data that suggests it might be useful for treating arthritis, and given its anti-inflammatory properties, this is hardly a surprise. While research is limited to date regarding arthritis, a rat study did suggest some potential for treating this condition .
Pterostilbene influences energy metabolism
While not unique to pterostilbene but important to mention, pterostilbene activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master regulator of cellular energy homeostasis. AMPK is one of the two catabolic signaling systems, the other being sirtuins; these two work together in a feedback loop and signal nutrient scarcity . These systems are part of our energy metabolism, and deregulation of that system is thought to be?one of the reasons we age.
Increasing these two pathways favors health and longevity (on the other hand, the IIS and mTOR pathways reduce lifespan when their levels are increased). In combination, AMPK and sirtuins sense low energy states by detecting high AMP levels and high NAD+ levels, respectively.
AMPK activation has a number of positive effects on metabolism as well as autophagy . It has been shown to influence lifespan in mice that were given metformin. Even better, AMPK even inhibits the mTOR signaling pathway, which increases autophagy.
Finally, pterostilbene also increases sirtuins, which are best known for their pro-longevity effects in dietary restriction experiments in a variety of animal species . Sirtuins adjust cellular metabolism based on nutrient availability and regulate many metabolic functions, including DNA repair, genomic stability, inflammatory response, apoptosis, cell cycle, and mitochondrial functions.