Antiaging Effects of Dietary Polysaccharides: Advance and Mechanisms

Abstract

Aging is a process in which the various physiological functions of the body gradually deteriorate and eventually lead to death. During this process, the body's resistance to external stresses gradually decreases and the aging-related diseases gradually are increased. Polysaccharides are a group of active substances extracted from living organisms and are widely found in plants, animals, and microorganisms. In the last decade, a variety of natural polysaccharides from functional and medicinal foods have attracted considerable interest for their beneficial effects in the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancers, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Interestingly, these polysaccharides have also been found to delay aging by reducing oxidative damage, inhibiting telomere shortening, and being anti-inflammatory in different animal models of aging. These reviews summarized the progresses in effects of polysaccharides on antiaging and the potential mechanisms and especially focused on the signaling pathways involved in the antiaging functions. Finally, the applications and prospects of the antiaging effects of polysaccharides are discussed.

Figure 1

Antiaging mechanisms of polysaccharides and related signal pathways. AMPK: adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase; SOD: superoxide dismutase; GPx: glutathione peroxidase; CAT: catalase enzymes; mTOR: mammalian target of rapamycin; NF-κB: nuclear factor kappa-B; Nrf2: nuclear factor E2-related factor 2.