Anti-ageing effects of FDA-approved medicines: a focused review
Koranit Thanapairoje, Supanut Junsiritrakhoon, Surasak Wichaiyo, Mohd Azuraidi Osman, Wasu Supharattanasitthi
Abstract
Abstract Ageing is the process generated by senescent cells, free radicals, inflammation and other relevant factors. Ageing contributes to age-related diseases that affect the quality of life. People are interested in anti-ageing intervention and many scientists attempt to search for anti-ageing medicines. This review focused on describing in vivo anti-ageing activity of US-FDA-approved drugs and found that alogliptin, canagliflozin and metformin might produce anti-ageing activity via AMPK activation. Rapamycin and canagliflozin are capable to inhibit mTOR to promote lifespan. Atracurium, carnitine and statins act as DAF-16 activators, which potentially contribute to anti-ageing activity. Hydralazine, lisinopril, rosiglitazone and zidovudine may help stabilize genomic integrity to prolong life expectancy. Other indirect mechanisms, including insulin-lowering effect by acarbose and calcium channel blocking activity by verapamil may also promote longevity. Interestingly, some drugs (i.e., canagliflozin, metformin, rapamycin and acarbose) are likely to demonstrate a lifespan-promoting effect predominantly in male animals. These pre-clinical data might provide mechanistic and phenotypic perspectives to better understand the targets of anti-ageing interventions.