Fructan PKP-1b from Polygonatum kingianum attenuates aging and neurodegeneration by inhibiting insulin/IGF-1 signaling.

Haitao Guo, Jiahui Wang, Yueying Yuan, Jinchai Qi, Shuqi Li, Heng Chen, Zhixing Huang, Hao Liu, Shaojun Yu, Zekun Yu, Gengyang Liu, Jing Han, Tao Ma, Yonggang Liu

School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Polygonatum kingianum is a known tonic herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine, extensively consumed in China, but the structure and activity of its polysaccharides remain to be clarified. In this study, a homogeneous fructan fraction, designated PKP-1b, was isolated and purified from this plant and structurally identified as an agavin-type fructan. In both Caenorhabditis elegans and a D-galactose-induced aging mouse model, PKP-1b exhibited significant anti-aging effects, including lifespan extension, improved motor function, reduced lipofuscin accumulation, and mitigation of neurodegenerative changes. Mechanistic investigations revealed that PKP-1b exerts its anti-aging effects by inhibiting the insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway, which in turn promotes nuclear translocation of the transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO, upregulates expression of the antioxidant gene sod-3, thereby enhancing overall antioxidant capacity and reducing oxidative damage. These findings elucidate the anti-aging mechanism of PKP-1b from P. kingianum and provide a theoretical foundation for its application in developing anti-aging products.

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Research summary

PKP-1b from Polygonatum kingianum extends lifespan and improves motor function in aging models by inhibiting the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. This study addresses mechanisms related to aging and lifespan extension, focusing on a potential intervention that targets the root causes of aging rather than merely treating symptoms.

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