Discovery of β-ionone derived chalcones as potent anti-aging agents

The accumulation of free radicals and consequent oxidative stress are primary drivers of aging. As such, antioxidants that eliminate free radicals may achieve anti-aging effects. To develop an anti-aging antioxidant, systematic structural modifications were carried out, with β-ionone as the lead. Subsequently, compound 5d was identified as the most active antioxidant. The novel compound 5d exhibited excellent free radical-scavenging ability in vitro, and improved the athletic ability and lifespan of Drosophila in vivo. The extension of lifespan due to 5d may be associated with inhibition of malondialdehyde (MDA) and an increase in the activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). These results suggest that 5d represents a promising anti-aging agent, thus worthy of further investigation.