Wine, chocolate good for cells

A COMPOUND in dark chocolate and red wine could help rejuvenate cells, according to a scientific breakthrough.

Researchers from the Universities of Exeter and Brighton made a sizeable breakthrough on ageing, and discovered a way to rejuvenate inactive senescent cells.

The researchers applied compounds called reversatrol analogues, which are chemicals based on a substance naturally found in red wine, dark chocolate, red grapes and blueberries, to cells in culture.

Previous research by the University of Exeter had found that a class of genes called ‘splicing factors’ are progressively switched off as we age.

But the new study found that applying the reversatrol analogues to the cells caused splicing factors to be switched back on.

Within hours of treatment, older cells had started to divide and had longer telomeres, which are the ‘caps’ on the chromosomes which shorten as we age.

The researchers hope that the breakthrough could lead to therapies that help people age better, and without many of the degenerative problems people encounter as we get older.

Prof Lorna Harries, a professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Exeter, said: “This is a first step in trying to make people live normal lifespans, but with health for their entire life.

“Our data suggests that using chemicals to switch back on the major class of genes that are switched off as we age might provide a means to restore function to old cells.”

Harries went on to explain that the research proves that the cells can be treated to regain some features of youth.

Dr Eva Latorre, a research associate at the University of Exeter, who carried out the experiments, was surprised by the extent and rapidity of the changes in the cells.

“When I saw some of the cells in the culture dish rejuvenating I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

“I repeated the experiments several times and, in each case, the cells rejuvenated. I am very excited by the implications and potential for this research.” – The Independent