The Effect of the Geroprotectors Astragaloside IV, Cycloastragenol, and Timovial–Epivial Peptide Complex on Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity in Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Senescent Fibroblasts

Abstract

A search for geroprotectors that would affect the telomere length and/or telomerase activity and not exhibit tumorigenicity is under progress. The medical use of various extracts of plants from the Astragalus genus of the Fabaceae family was first described in 200 CE. However, scientific studies of the components of these extracts (cycloastragenol, astragaloside IV) have begun only recently. The goal of this work was to explore the effect of a composition consisting of astragaloside IV, cycloastragenol, and the Timovial–Epivial dipeptide and its components on telomere length and telomerase activity in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells and aging fibroblasts. Telomerase activity was determined by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP). Telomere length was determined by measuring the intensity of fluorescence in situ hybridization signals using flow cytometry. None of the composition components caused a significant change in the determined parameters on its own. Only cycloastragenol had a negligible effect on the telomere length in fibroblasts. The combination of the key compound, astragaloside IV, aglycone of astragalosides—cycloastragenol (CAG), and biopeptide complex produced more significant changes in the telomere length and telomerase activity than did each component alone. The complex was shown to have a significant effect on telomere length and telomerase activity. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism of the effect of the components combination on telomere length and telomerase activity.