Extension of life-span with superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics

S Melov, J Ravenscroft, S Malik, MS Gill, DW Walker… - Science, 2000 - science.org
S Melov, J Ravenscroft, S Malik, MS Gill, DW Walker, PE Clayton, DC Wallace, B Malfroy…
Science, 2000science.org
We tested the theory that reactive oxygen species cause aging. We augmented the natural
antioxidant systems of Caenorhabditis elegans with small synthetic superoxide
dismutase/catalase mimetics. Treatment of wild-type worms increased their mean life-span
by a mean of 44 percent, and treatment of prematurely aging worms resulted in
normalization of their life-span (a 67 percent increase). It appears that oxidative stress is a
major determinant of life-span and that it can be counteracted by pharmacological …
We tested the theory that reactive oxygen species cause aging. We augmented the natural antioxidant systems ofCaenorhabditis elegans with small synthetic superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics. Treatment of wild-type worms increased their mean life-span by a mean of 44 percent, and treatment of prematurely aging worms resulted in normalization of their life-span (a 67 percent increase). It appears that oxidative stress is a major determinant of life-span and that it can be counteracted by pharmacological intervention.
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