GRAPE SEED EXTRACT - PROCYANIDIN C1 (PCC1) 

Are we a step closer to discovering an anti-aging formula?
Late 2021, top scientific journal 'Nature's Metabolism' released a paper titled "The flavonoid procyanidin C1 has senotherapeutic activity and increases lifespan in mice".

This research was conducted by a group of reputable scientists from Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, BYHEALTH Institute of Nutrition & Health and various other professionals. 

From a specific type grape seed extract, this incredible team of researchers identified procyanidin C1 (PCC1) and found that it was able to remove senescent cells in mice effectively without any adverse effects to the body. 

What are Senescent cells?

When our cells are damaged, they're usually removed by our immune system via apoptosis (cell destruction/removal). Senescent cells increase with age and are types of cells which stop multiplying, linger in our bodies and avoid apoptosis. These types of cells can often cause inflammation to neighbouring cells, which can impact an individual's immune health and recovery.

So what role does PCC1 play?

In past research by a team of American scientists, "the research results of dasatinib + quercetin in the treatment of an age-related fatal disease in humans", the antioxidant compounds called dasatinib and quercetin were found to remove senescent cells as well. The combination of these compounds are used in Senolytics (medicine) and commonly referred to as the anti-aging "star twins". They had provided new support for the development of anti-aging products. However, the long term use of Senolytics may cause side effects like anemia, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia, which cannot be ignored. 

In this PCC1 study, the Chinese research team chose grape seed extract, which has the most potential in "targeting senescent cells", to conduct a more in-depth study and successfully extracted PCC1 (Procyanidin C1). Compared with dasatinib + quercetin, the anti-aging "star twins", PCC1 can selectively, efficiently and safely remove senescent cells without causing any toxic effects or damage on non-senescent cells nor cause low efficiency of senescent cell removal.

In addition to this discovery, the research team had also found that PCC1 may inhibit tumor development. The study found that PCC1 alone, when injected into tumor-bearing model mice, had no effect on the tumor cells. But when PCC1 and chemotherapeutics worked together, the effect of chemotherapeutics on tumor cells increased exponentially. The survival period of the mice during the intervention has also been lengthened by 48.1%, which is was quite an amazing discovery.

Although these discoveries are certainly exciting and is considered a milestone in the industry, we do still have a long way to go in the study of anti-aging and nutrition. It's important to note also that this was an animal study and our next steps in the future would hopefully include human trials.