The Use of Natural Agents to Counteract Telomere Shortening: Effects of a Multi-Component Extract of <i>Astragalus mongholicus</i> Bunge and Danazol

• Main Authors: Isabelle Guinobert, Claude Blondeau, Bruno Colicchio, Noufissa Oudrhiri, Alain Dieterlen, Eric Jeandidier, Georges Deschenes, Valérie Bardot, César Cotte, Isabelle Ripoche, Patrice Carde, Lucile Berthomier, Radhia M’Kacher
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-02-01
• Series: Biomedicines
• Subjects: <i>astragalus mongholicus</i> bunge; danazol; telomere; telomerase; aging
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/8/2/31

A link between telomere shortening and oxidative stress was found in aging people and patients with cancer or inflammatory diseases. Extracts of <i>Astragalus</i> spp. are known to stimulate telomerase activity, thereby compensating telomere shortening. We characterized a multi-component hydroethanolic root extract (HRE) of <i>Astragalus mongholicus</i> Bunge and assessed its effects on telomeres compared to those of danazol. Astragalosides I to IV, flavonoids, amino acids and sugars were detected in the HRE. Samples of peripheral blood lymphocytes with short telomeres from 18 healthy donors (mean age 63.5 years; range 32&#8722;86 years) were exposed to a single dose of 1 &#181;g/mL HRE or danazol for three days. Telomere length and telomerase expression were then measured. Significant elongation of telomeres associated to a less toxicity was observed in lymphocytes from 13/18 donors following HRE treatment (0.54 kb (0.15&#8722;2.06 kb)) and in those from 9/18 donors after danazol treatment (0.95 kb (0.06&#8722;2.06 kb)). The rate of cells with short telomeres (&lt;3 kb) decreased in lymphocytes from all donors after exposure to either HRE or danazol, telomere elongation being telomerase-dependent. These findings suggest that the HRE could be used for the management of age-related diseases.