Fruits and Herbs as Potential Human Anti-Aging Compounds – A Review

Publication Date:
2025-02-01

Institutions involved:

IES Institute of Pharmacy, IES University, Bhopal (M.P.), India
Prestige Institute of Management and Research, Bhopal (M.P.), India

Participants:
This narrative review collates prior studies on herbs, fruits, and phytochemicals with anti-aging properties.

Duration:
N/A

Dosage:
N/A (review study).

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Key Takeaways:

This paper reinforces the role of apple polyphenols in mitochondrial stability, oxidative defense, and lifespan extension across multiple aging models in flatworms, fruit flies, and mice.

“These results clearly suggest that, when applied to model organisms, APs demonstrated anti-aging properties, including anti-oxidative, anti-protein aggregation, and pro-longevity effects.”

Among all botanicals discussed, apple procyanidins receive the most mechanistic attention—from cardiac electrophysiology to neuroprotection and protein homeostasis.

Apple Poly Summary:

Why Is This Study Important? As interest grows in natural strategies to slow aging, this review elevates apple polyphenols—particularly procyanidins—as standout compounds with the ability to fight oxidative damage, stabilize proteins, and extend cellular lifespan. Set alongside blueberries, citrus, and green tea, apples emerge not just as nourishing food, but as functional aging modulators with multi-organ influence.

In Plain English: This study shows how polyphenols from apples and other plants can help slow aging. It highlights special compounds in apples that protect your cells from damage, keep your skin healthy, and may even help you live longer. The paper also compares longevity benefits from similar compounds in green tea, amla, and blueberries.

For Medical Professionals: This review emphasizes polyphenolic compounds— including apple-derived procyanidins—as multifunctional anti-aging agents that attenuate oxidative stress, inhibit protein aggregation (e.g. Aβ42), and extend lifespan in yeast, rodent, and nematode models. Apples are presented as the most mechanistically diverse among the phytochemical sources, with additional roles in modulating ion channel dynamics, reducing electrophysiological dysfunction in cardiac aging, and promoting neuronal regeneration. Blueberries, green tea, and citrus are also discussed as adjunctive sources of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and matrix-preserving activity.

Abstract:

Due to the world's population's increasing aging, age-related disorders and increased life expectancy require attention and research. It is commonly acknowledged that aging is an unavoidable process impacted by lifestyle, environmental and genetic variables. The aging process begins the moment we are born and becomes distinctly apparent on our skin as we age. Collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase are among the enzymes that exhibit increased activity in relation to skin aging. These enzymes are associated with extracellular matrix deterioration, which has been directly connected to skin aging. ROS, or reactive oxygen species, are essential to many biological activities. The skin absorbs UV light, which increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress. Skin aging can be accelerated by activated hyaluronidase, collagenase, and elastase, which are all brought on by elevated ROS. Ageing can also be caused by intrinsic factors like hormones, cellular metabolism, and heredity, in addition to external elements like pollution, smoking, food, and sun exposure. In this day of advanced science, many would like to look younger and avoid issues by using natural herbs over plastic surgery or laser therapy. Herbs provide the nutrients needed for healthy skin and assist the skin's biological functions. Herbs include a wide category of phytochemicals, including carotenoids, terpenoids, and polyphenols, that have anti-aging qualities. The antioxidative properties of many different plants and plant extracts are being investigated. Plants' flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic chemicals are what give them their antioxidative properties. This article focuses on readily available fruits and herbs that have anti-aging properties.

Keyword: Anti-ageing, Reactive oxygen species, Antioxidants, Herbs, Fruits Phytochemicals, Phenolic Compounds.

Kumar, Sanjay, et al. “Fruits and Herbs as Potential Human Anti-Aging Compounds – A Review.” Cuestiones de Fisioterapia, vol. 54, no. 4, 2025, pp. 438–445.