Nectandrin B for Longevity: Nectandrin B (in Nutmeg) Significantly Increases Lifespan of Fruit Flies

“The extent of life extension achieved through this experimental study is the most effective achieved to date among other agents.”

BUFFALO, NY- December 13, 2023 – A new research paper was published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as “Aging (Albany NY)” and “Aging-US” by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 22, entitled, “Nectandrin B significantly increases the lifespan of Drosophila – Nectandrin B for longevity.”

Phytochemicals are increasingly recognized in the field of healthy aging as potential therapeutics against various aging-related diseases. Nutmeg, derived from the Myristica fragrans tree, is an example. Nutmeg has been extensively studied and proven to possess antioxidant properties that protect against aging and alleviate serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and liver disease. However, the specific active ingredient in nutmeg responsible for these health benefits has not been identified thus far. 

In this new study, researchers Ji-Seon Ahn, Nasir Uddin Mahbub, Sura Kim, Han-Byeol Kim, Jong-Soon Choi, Hea-Jong Chung, and Seong-Tshool Hong from Korea Basic Science Institute, Jeonbuk National University Medical School and Chung-Ang University present evidence that Nectandrin B (NecB), a bioactive lignan compound isolated from nutmeg, significantly extended the lifespan of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster by as much as 42.6% compared to the control group. 

“[…] we hypothesized that NecB might possess anti-aging efficacy.”

The dramatic reduction of intracellular ROS levels by NecB captured the researchers’ attention. NecB also improved age-related symptoms including locomotive deterioration, body weight gain, eye degeneration, and neurodegeneration in aging D. melanogaster. The researchers wrote that this result represents the most substantial improvement in lifespan observed in animal experiments to date, suggesting that NecB may hold promise as a potential therapeutic agent for promoting longevity and addressing age-related degeneration.

“We strongly believe that NecB urgently needs further attention and research, as we believe it has made a potential contribution to our understanding of the aging process as well as its application as a potential therapeutic agent for longevity and age-related.”

Read the full paper: DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.205234 

Corresponding Authors: Jong-Soon Choi, Hea-Jong Chung, Seong-Tshool Hong

Corresponding Emails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 

Keywords: Myristica fragrans, nutmeg, Nectandrin B, lifespan, longevity

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About Aging: Launched in 2009, Aging (Aging-US) publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.

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