This article is the second in a series about biohacking for increased lifespan.
Caffeic Acid
What is caffeic acid? No caffeic acid is not caffeine but it is present in coffee in small amounts. The abstract in a paper titled Caffeic acid: a review of its potential use in medications and cosmetics published in the journal Analytical Methods sums it up pretty well. The abstract reads “Besides powerful antioxidant activity, increasing collagen production and prevention of premature aging, caffeic acid has demonstrated antimicrobial activity and may be promising in the treatment of dermal diseases. The relevance of this study is based on the use of caffeic acid that has become increasingly common in humans. Thus, studies that demonstrate and clarify the functions of this substance are very important.” http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2014/ay/c3ay41807c
Caffeic acid is in the family of hydroxycinnamic acids and is present in significant amounts in some foods. Below is a table listing some foods along with their caffeic acid content. Coffee is listed to give the reader a reference point.
| Food | caffeic acid | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Black chokeberry | 141.14 | mg/100g |
| Spearmint, dried | 25.00 | mg/100g |
| Ceylan cinnamon | 24.20 | mg/100g |
| Common sage, dried | 26.40 | mg/100g |
| Common sage, fresh | 7.42 | mg/100g |
| Common thyme, dried | 21.28 | mg/100g |
| Common thyme, fresh | 11.70 | mg/100g |
| Italian oregano, fresh | 10.40 | mg/100g |
| Lingonberry*, raw | 6.34 | mg/100g |
| Coffee beverage [Filter] | 0.03 | mg/100ml |
*Lingonberry contain 3 mg/100g of resveratrol.
The data in the table was attained from the phenol-explorer. The link is below and you can use it to find the caffeic acid content of other foods. http://phenol-explorer.eu/contents/polyphenol/457
Wound Healing
As we age wound healing decreases. So it seems reasonable to hack biology to increase the rate of wound healing. A research article published in The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology finds that “caffeic acid has a wound healing effect” in mice. The authors also find that “caffeic acid significantly stimulated collagen-like polymer production”. The authors write that “caffeic acid appears to have a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect in cell culture system, which may be related to wound healing”. This research implies that caffeic acid might be a good biohack to simulate wound healing. https://synapse.koreamed.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4196/kjpp.2008.12.6.343
As I continued looking into caffeic acid I quickly became overwhelmed so Ive listed some bullet points with links to the research papers.
Caffeic acid traumatic brain injury protection
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320506007843Caffeic acid Alzheimer's disease protection
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320508004943Caffeic acid Parkinson’s disease protection
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003986110001141Caffeic acid ischemic stroke protection
https://behavioralandbrainfunctions.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12993-015-0064-xCaffeic acid myocardial infarction (heart attack) protection
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12192-010-0187-9Caffeic acid exhibits potent anticancer effect.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11010-010-0655-7Caffeic acid lowers plasma glucose in diabetic rats but not in healthy rats. https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/s-2000-8561
With caffeic acid having so many positive effects on health I began to suspect that it up regulates one or more longevity genes. In the following paper I found a longevity gene referenced.
In a study published in ScienceDirect the authors write that; “Sirtuin 3 (Sirt3), [one of the top 20 longevity genes], plays critical roles in regulating mitochondrial oxidative metabolism”. The authors also write that; “this study investigated the effect of [caffeic acid] on liver I/R injury, microcirculatory disturbance, and potential mechanisms, particularly focusing on Sirt3-dependent [mitochondrial respiratory chain]”. The authers conclude that; “treatment [of male rats] with [caffeic acid] attenuated liver injury”. Also caffeic acid “inhibited Sirt3 down-expression and up-regulated [mitochondrial respiratory chain] activity”.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891584915001963
So it appears that caffeic acid up-regulated the Sirtuin 3 gene expression enough to counter the down-expression that the trauma would have caused.
Conclusion
Caffeic acid up-regulates the longevity gene Sirtuin 3. Caffeic acid also stimulates wound healing and collagen production. Caffeic acid also appearers to protect against neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome and possibly some cancers. Caffeic acid is present in many foods so simple dietary adjustments may be all that is needed to biohack Sirtuin 3.
Remark
The plants that contain caffeic acid can be ordered from an herb nursery or a plant nursery. Growing your own plants means that you can use organic fertilizers, keep them pesticide free and they will always be fresh.
Disclaimers
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. As always consult your doctor before making any dietary changes if you are taking any medications.
I have no financial interest in any pharmaceutical or supplement companies.
I am not employed by any pharmaceutical or supplement companies.
Comments
If the steemit community is interested in this topic I plan to do some updates to the article. The updates will cover any dietary supplements that can biohack the 169 enzymes that are responsible the repair of DNA and the 200 genes that are associated with longevity. It would be an enormous project and an expensive one. It would be expensive because a lot of the research papers are behind pay walls and it can cost $35 just to access one research paper.
Also English is not my strong point I am sure that there are many grammatical errors an would appreciate suggestions to correct them.