Bisogna anche vedere nella biogenina quanto ce n'é! Nell'articolo di cui sopra (a firma di uno dei più noti ricercatori sui capelli R. Paus) è stato utilizzato il derivato metilato in posizione N1: la metilazione conferisce maggiore stabilità farmacodinamica, in quanto la molecola ha una emivita molto più lunga (90h). Per la verità alla base del Biogenina ricordavo un'altra poliamina ma non avendo la scheda tecnica e non avendolo mai acquistato non saprei. (forse c'é effettivamente la spermidina in forma di sale HCl)
Ad ogni modo la spermidina è una delle molecole più promettenti negli studi biogerontologici su cavie (e quindi un domani anche sull'uomo?): è un attivatore dell'autofagia cellulare, ha mostrato di incrementare la stabilità della proteostasi, di ridurre l'instabilità genomica, di combattere lo stresso ossidativo, di prolungare la sopravvivenza massima su più modelli sperimentali.
Sui capelli potrebbe fare qualcosa.
Gerontology DOI: 10.1159/000356748
Molecular Basis of the ‘Anti-Aging’ Effect of Spermidine and Other Natural Polyamines – A Mini-Review, July 7, 2013
Background: Spermidine, a naturally occurring polyamine, has recently emerged as exhibiting anti-aging properties. Its supplementation increases lifespan and resistance to stress, and decreases the occurrence of age-related pathology and loss of locomotor ability. Its mechanisms of action are just beginning to be understood. Objectives: An up-to-date overview of the so far identified mechanisms of action of spermidine and other polyamines on aging is presented. Methods: Studies of aging and of the molecular effects of polyamines in general and spermidine in particular are used to synthesize our knowledge on what molecular mecha- nisms spermidine and other polyamines trigger to positively affect aging. Results: Autophagy is the main mechanism of action of spermidine at the molecular level. However, recent research shows that spermidine can act via other mecha- nisms, namely inflammation reduction, lipid metabolism and regulation of cell growth, proliferation and death. It is suggested that the main pathway used by spermidine to
trigger its effects is the MAPK pathway. Conclusions: Given that polyamines can interact with many molecules, it is not surprising that they affect aging via several mechanisms. Many of these mechanisms discovered so far have already been linked with aging and by acting on all of these mecha- nisms, polyamines may be strong regulators of aging.
Spermidine, a novel autophagy inducer and longevity elixir
Frank Madeo,1,* Tobias Eisenberg,1 Sabrina Büttner,1 Christoph Ruckenstuhl1 and Guido Kroemer2-4,*
1Institute of Molecular Biosciences; University of Graz; Graz, Austria; 2INSERM, U848; Villejuif, France; 3Institut Gustave Roussy; Villejuif, France; 4University Paris Sud; Villejuif, France
Spermidine is a ubiquitous polycation that is synthesized from putrescine and serves as a precursor of spermine.Putrescine, spermidine and spermine all are polyamines that participate in multiple known and unknown biological processes. Exogenous supply of spermidine prolongs the life span of several model organisms including yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans) and flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and significantly reduces age-related oxidative protein damage in mice, indicating that this agent may act as a universal anti-aging drug. Spermidine induces autophagy in cultured yeast and mammalian cells, as well as in nematodes and flies. Genetic inactivation of genes essential for autophagy abolishes the life span-prolonging effect of spermidine in yeast, nematodes and flies. These findings complement expanding evidence that autophagy mediates cytoprotection against a variety of noxious agents and can confer longevity when induced at the whole-organism level. We hypoth- esize that increased autophagic turnover of cytoplasmic organelles or long-lived proteins is involved in most if not all life span-prolonging therapies.