Diosgenin, a plant-derived compound, activates SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling to restore satellite cell function and muscle mass in aged mice, demonstrating a mechanistic pathway relevant to age-related sarcopenia. The compound increased grip strength, exercise endurance, and muscle fiber size while upregulating myogenic markers and growth factors essential for muscle regeneration.
Key Points
- Diosgenin directly activates SIRT1, triggering PGC-1α deacetylation and downstream myogenic signalin
- Treatment improved grip strength, endurance, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area in aged mice
- Satellite cell proliferation and myogenic differentiation markers increased in response to diosgenin
Longevity Analysis
Sarcopenia represents one of the most limiting factors in healthspan, constraining not only physical capacity but also metabolic resilience and injury recovery. This work identifies a specific molecular node—the SIRT1/PGC-1α axis—where a naturally occurring compound can restore the responsiveness of muscle stem cells that typically decline with age. By reactivating satellite cell proliferation and the myogenic program, diosgenin addresses a root mechanism of muscle deterioration rather than merely compensating for its symptoms. The dose and duration required for human benefit remain to be established, and long-term safety data in aging populations will be essential before clinical translation.
Original published by Wiley Aging Cell, by Xin Zeng, Han Ding, Ziye Li, Qian Wang, Peiyao Guan, Tingting Wang, Jiayun Wang, Yansong Fu, Lizhang Chen, Hong Qin .