Maral root, shilajit, cordyceep or the best adaptogen for me
Dont forget Astragale !
Cycloastragenol is extracted from astragalus root.
It is a natural molecule belonging to the sapogenin family.
Astragaloside IV is also another active anti-aging molecule found in astragalus membranaceus. Its structure is similar to cycloastragenol.
The benefits of cycloastragenol are renowned. Indeed, cycloastragenol is a powerful antioxidant and anti-aging. It has been used for over 2000 years in Chinese medicine as an energizer and toner due to its ability to renew and increase cells.
Indeed, it acts directly on DNA, allowing to lengthen telomeres.
Telomeres can be represented as caps located at the end of chromosomes. They ensure cell division. With age, they shorten, resulting in a slowdown in cell renewal.
Thus, cycloastragenol is able to stimulate the whole body as well as to support the immune defenses.
Properties and benefits
Anti-aging
Its most researched property concerns its ability to stimulate telomerase. Telomerases are enzymes that protect telomeres from shortening as a result of increased cell division with age. These enzymes also act by preserving DNA and thereby the genetic code1.
This property is essential to avoid transcription errors and the synthesis of non-functional cells.
Thus, cycloastragenol by stimulating the action of telomerases, lengthen telomeres and decrease the deterioration of DNA2.
Cycloastragenol exerts its properties on a wide variety of cells: hematopoietic, pulmonary, liver, heart, brain, as well as at the level of stem cells3.
It also promotes in vitr and in vivo the repair of damaged tissues by increasing the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts4.
Furthermore, the aging process is correlated with a loss of behavior linked to circadian activity.
However, the administration of cycloastragenol to rats for 6 weeks shows an improvement in the monitoring of the circadian clock with, for example, an increase in locomotion.
Also, cycloastragenol could be proposed as a therapy during loss of daily rhythm5.
Finally, when a preparation based on cycloastragenol, growth factors and antioxidants is applied for 12 weeks, the result is a significant reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, an improvement in texture and elasticity. skin. It did not cause any irritation or side reaction6.
Photoaging
Exposure to UVs inhibits the production of collagen and ultimately reduces its content in the dermis. The consequences are early aging of the skin with slackening and the appearance of wrinkles.
In vitr studies on human fibroblasts exposed to UVs show that astragaloside IV reduces both UVA and UVB toxicity, maintains collagen secretion7 and inhibits its degradation8.
On the other hand, astragaloside inhibits oxidative stress induced by UVs. In addition, it stimulates the autophagy of damaged collagen under the effect of UVs, thus regulating its cellular homeostasis9.
Immunosenescence
The benefits of cycloastragenol don't stop there.
Cycloastragenol is also associated with an anti-aging effect on the immune system.
It acts as a T-cell immunostimulant and arrests chronic viral infections seen in HIV infections10. This action is mediated by telomerases activated by cycloastragenol11.
Furthermore, astragalus extract, also naturally occurring in astragalus root, has significant immunological adjuvant activity when combined with human vaccines12. It stimulates innate immunity by modulating the migration and maturation of monocytes13 as well as acquired immunity by increasing the antibody response by increasing the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes14.
Namely, its anti-inflammatory properties help improve the immune response.
heart function
During an infarction, taking IV astragaloside preserves cardiac function, reduces infarct size and inhibits ventricular fibrosis in rats15. The cardioprotective mechanisms involved are its ability to activate glutathione peroxidase and SOD leading to a decrease in free radicals and inflammatory cytokines16.
On the other hand, it exhibits angiogenic effects. Thus, after placing human endothelial cells in hypoxia, astragaloside IV promotes the proliferation and migration of cells forming new vessels17.
Neuroprotection
In a mouse model, astragaloside IV improves learning and memory by inhibiting amyloid plaque formation18 as well as protecting neurons from neurotoxicity19.