Icariin Treatment Improves the Aging Gut Microbiome in Mice

The gut microbiome is important in health and aging. Populations of microbes change with age, favoring harmful inflammatory populations at the expense of populations that generate beneficial metabolites. Restoration of a youthful microbiome via fecal microbiota transplantation has been demonstrated to be beneficial in animal studies. The research community is also evaluating other approaches to at least partially rejuvenate the aged gut microbiome, such as flagellin immunization to provoke the immune system into removing more of the harmful gut microbes. Researchers here provide evidence for treatment with icariin, a plant-derived flavonoid, to favorably adjust the balance of intestinal microbial populations in mice, though it is unclear as to the mechanism of action. We previously reported the neuroprotective effects of icariin in rat cortical neurons. Here, we present a study on icariin's anti-aging effect in 24-month aged mice by treating them with a single daily dose of 100 mg/kg of icariin for 15 consecutive days. Icariin treatment improved motor coordination and learning skills while lowered oxidative stress biomarkers in the serum, brain, kidney, and liver of the aged mice. In addition, icariin improved the intestinal integrity of the aged mice by upregulating tight junction adhesion molecules and the Paneth cells and goblet cells, along with the reduction of iNOS and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-6, and IL-12). Icariin treatments als...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs