Giloy Extract Attenuates D-Galactose-Induced Aging in Mice via AMPK-SIRT1 Pathway

Researchers have demonstrated that an ethanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia, commonly known as Giloy, attenuates D-galactose-induced aging in mice via the AMPK-SIRT1 pathway in liver and testis tissues. In the study, mice subjected to aging induction through D-galactose injection showed restoration of key aging, oxidative, and inflammatory markers after being fed the herbal extract via oral gavage.

To investigate these effects, the experimental protocol established an assay system comparing naturally aged mice, D-galactose-induced aging mice, and induced aging mice treated with Tinospora cordifolia extract. Following the treatment period, the mice were euthanised, and serum along with liver, brain, spleen, kidney, and testis tissues were harvested to evaluate oxidative biomarkers, inflammatory biomarkers, and aging-related proteins.

Assays of oxidative stress revealed that superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase activities declined, while malondialdehyde levels increased, in both naturally aged and D-galactose-induced aging groups. Treatment with Tinospora cordifolia extract restored these oxidative biomarkers to normal levels. Furthermore, elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6, and the multifunctional cytokine transforming growth factor-beta-1, alongside decreased levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 observed in aging groups, were similarly restored following administration of the extract.

Western blotting analysis demonstrated increased levels of cell-cycle arrest proteins p53, p21, and p16, as well as the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NFκB-p65, in the liver and testis of naturally aged and induced-aging mice, which were reversed in extract-fed mice. Concurrently, pro-longevity kinase AMPK, transcription factor FOXO1, and pro-longevity sirtuins were downregulated in the liver and testis of aging mice but restored upon Tinospora cordifolia feeding. The authors noted that these protein-level changes were not observed in the brain tissues of the mice, indicating tissue-specific responses and highlighting potential anti-aging effects in the liver and testis of this animal model.

Subject of Research: Attenuation of D-galactose-induced aging in mice by Tinospora cordifolia extract

Article Title: Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) extract attenuates the D-Galactose-induced aging in mice via the AMPK-SIRT1 pathway

Article References: Singh, B., Chaturvedi, M. M., & Purohit, J. S. (2026). Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) extract attenuates the D-Galactose-induced aging in mice via the AMPK-SIRT1 pathway. Molecular Biology Reports, 53(1), Article 1902. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-026-13050-9

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s11033-026-13050-9

Keywords: Tinospora cordifolia, Giloy, aging, mice, AMPK-SIRT1 pathway, oxidative stress, inflammation, cellular senescence, Tinospora, cordifolia, extract, attenuates