J. Milne et al., “Small molecule activators of SIRT1 as therapeutics for the treatment of type 2 diabetes,” Nature, 450: 712–16, 2007. (Cited in 145 papers)
Scientists at Sirtris Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Harvard University developed approximately 3,000 small molecules that mimic resveratrol, which extends life span and protects against age-related diseases (such as Type 2 diabetes) by activating a protein called SIRT1. In diabetic mice, these new compounds were up to 1,000 times more potent than resveratrol and had the same beneficial effects for treating diabetes—they improved insulin sensitivity, lowered glucose levels in the blood, and increased the capacity of mitochondria.
“We want to translate these molecules into drugs people can take to treat diseases of aging, such as Type 2 diabetes,” says Christoph Westphal, an author on the paper and a cofounder of Sirtris.
Increasing SIRT1 activity could combat a slew of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration and cancer, ...
