According to a study from Jena, Germany, "Naturally occurring compounds that promote energy expenditure and delay aging in model organisms may be of significant interest, since these substances potentially provide pharmaceutical approaches to tackle obesity and promote healthy lifespan in humans. We aimed to test whether pharmaceutical concentrations of glaucarubinone, a cytotoxic and antimalarial quassinoid known from different species of the plant family Simaroubaceae, are capable of affecting metabolism and/or extending lifespan in a nematodal model organism for aging processes, the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. Adult C. elegans roundworms, maintained on agar plates, were fed with E. coli strain OP50 bacteria, and glaucarubinone was applied to the agar to test (i) whether it alters respiration rates and mitochondrial activity, (ii) whether it affects body fat content, and (iii) whether it may promote longevity by quantifying survival in the presence and absence of the compound."
"We have found that glaucarubinone induces oxygen consumption and reduces body fat content of C. elegans. Moreover and consistent with the concept of mitohormesis, glaucarubinone extends C. elegans lifespan when applied at a concentration of 1 or 10 nanomolar," wrote K. Zarse and colleagues, University of Jena.
The researchers concluded: "Taken together, glaucarubinone is capable of reducing body fat and promoting longevity in C. elegans, tentatively suggesting that this compound may promote metabolic health and lifespan in mammals and possibly humans."

NFU urges shelf life extensions for lamb

Extending the shelf life of lamb will allow the UK to compete effectively with markets in New Zealand and Australia, according NFU's Sion Aron Jones who was speaking to members at an AGM discussion.
Members present heard of the Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) project which seeks to extend the shelf life of lamb in order for farmers to meet a growing demand for the product and expand export opportunities.
The project will investigate ways for the industry to increase competitiveness in export markets, achieve greater access to distant markets by utilising sea-freight instead of air-freight, extending the seasonal availability of lamb and reducing wastage caused by spoilage throughout the supply chain.
"Our main competitors have managed to extend shelf life from 14-21 days to nearer 60 days by concentrating on achieving best practice - focussing on the basics of the provision of clean livestock and hygienic processing. We can definitely learn from our competitors," said Jones, who is HCC's Industry Development Manager.
NFU Cymru members present reinforced their view that securing adequate shelf space of Welsh PGI Lamb in retailers stores is as important as extending the shelf life of the product.
Glasnant Morgan, Brecon and Radnor NFU Cymru County Chairman said, €Visibility of our Welsh produce on supermarket shelves and effective marketing is vital to the success of our product. Clear labels which provide accurate and relevant information is of paramount importance to allow consumers to make an informed decision on the products they wish to purchase.€
Members present at the Brecon and Radnor AGM elected Stuart Morris, who farms near Clyro, to serve as County Chairman for the county for the next two years, when Glasnant Morgan stands down in January.

How To Live Forever: Cranberries Extend Longevity At Any Age

You simply can't go wrong with cranberries. In a study published in Experimental Gerontology, researchers report that cranberry supplementation reduces cancer-causing oxidative damage and oxidative stress response in Drosophila fruit flies. The health benefits of the supplement were significant enough to lower age-specific mortality rate and extend the lifespan of the fly during any of the three life stages of the insect; health, transition, and senescence. In humans, these stages equate to young adulthood, middle age, and old age.
"The long-lasting effect of cranberry supplementation is probably due to its ability to change signaling pathways and epigenetic status,€ explained lead-author Yaning Sun of the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore and colleagues. The authors of the study were referring to the sensitive mechanisms that control how genes get expressed. €Our findings suggest that cranberry as an abundant and popular fruit is a potentially viable option for aging interventions in humans of different ages.€
The three life stages in question reflect distinct changes that occur as we age. At the molecular level, these adjustments involve gene expression and oxidative damage to important molecules in our body. At the physiological level, these stages pertain to how our cells become less able to handle metabolism and stress. Finally, the behavioral and cognitive aspects to aging are associated with a decline in locomotor activity, learning and memory.
"The complex nature of life stages poses a major challenge to develop effective interventions for promoting healthspan and lifespan,€ the study authors wrote. €Any intervention starting in young adults can be costly and impractical to implement in humans. Moreover, it may miss interventions effective in certain life stages.€
For example, curcumin €" a substance in the popular South Asian spice turmeric €" was discovered to be beneficial when implemented early in life (the health stage) but harmful if given late in late life (the transition or senescence stage). Conversely, the molecule sodium butyrate was shown to have the opposite effect by increasing lifespan when given during later stages of the Drosophila, but not earlier.
In the current study, researchers fed a high-sugar diet supplemented with 2 percent cranberry extract to groups of 100 to 200 flies that were sequestered in separate vials. Flies that were given the cranberry supplement during the health stage had a 25 percent longer lifespan than flies that didn't receive any cranberry in their diet. Flies in the transition and senescence phases of their lives also benefited from having cranberry in their diet, living 30 percent longer than controls.
Overall, the study was the first to show the beneficial effects of cranberry supplement regardless of age. €To our knowledge, cranberry is the first case showing that a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical can promote longevity when administered during any of the three distinct life stages,€ the authors concluded. €Future studies are warranted to determine how cranberry extends lifespan during different life stages. Such studies are important because different mechanisms may be involved during different life stages.€