The Japanese plant that regenerates the body

Autophagy is one of the resources that the body possesses to regenerate diseased or damaged cells and eliminate toxic waste, something essential in the prevention of diseases and in the delay of aging.

Periodic fasting is one of the strategies that allow us to stimulate this natural process, but researchers from the University of Graz (Austria) have discovered a flavonoid that also does it and effectively.

They confirm the properties of a plant that promotes longevity

This flavonoid is called 4,4′-dimethoxychalcone (DMC) and is found in a plant well known for Japanese natural medicine, ashitaba (Angelica Keiskei). According to traditional wisdom, this plant promotes wound healing, prevents infections, improves general health and prolongs life. Ashitaba is a close relative of another great Asian medicinal plant, dong quai (angelica sinensis).

The confirmation of the properties of the plant has occurred in a curious way. The researchers from the University of Graz, among whom is the Spanish molecular biologist Didac Carmona-Gutiérrez, did not know the plant and wanted to scientifically prove its properties, instead they analyzed a collection of 180 flavonoids looking for new natural compounds capable of fighting premature aging and discovered the efficacy of DMC. Later they found out that one of their main sources is the ashitaba.

Extends life by 20% (in laboratory experiments)

According to the study published in Nature Communications, DMC extends the life of laboratory species by more than 20% commonly used in aging studies, such as fruit flies, worms, and mice, and it also slows the degeneration of human cells in vitro.

Many natural substances have an anti-aging effect due to their antioxidant action, however, ashitaba and DMC act on the autophagy process, something novel, which opens the way to develop drugs that slow down aging. Specifically, DMC inactivates proteins called GATA, which It makes it easier for cells to carry out the autophagy process.

The ashitaba also protects the heart

The researchers verified the action of the DMC on yeasts, laboratory worms and fruit flies. They found that by adding it to their diet, the average longevity of these organisms increases by 20%. Furthermore, they determined that protects heart muscle so that in the mice that took DMC and suffered a heart attack the lesion was less.

Researchers believe that DMC has potential as a medicine against age-related diseases.