🔬TODAY’S BREAKTHROUGH
A groundbreaking multi-species study has identified common herbal compounds that act as powerful cellular cleansers. Researchers found that thymol and carvacrol, key components of thyme and oregano, promote autophagy and mitophagy, protecting against metabolic stress, muscle loss, and epigenetic aging.
The Discovery:
Using a whole-organism screen in zebrafish, scientists identified thymol and carvacrol as the most potent activators of autophagy among tested natural bioactives. Supplementation with thymol was found to protect against diet-induced obesity, dramatically improve skeletal muscle function, and significantly delay epigenetic aging in a mouse model of accelerated aging.
The Science:
The core mechanism involves thymol mildly and transiently lowering the mitochondrial membrane potential. This transient stress triggers a cellular response that promotes mitophagy, the recycling of damaged mitochondria.
In mice, thymol treatment preserved muscle strength and endurance and reduced epigenetic age in skeletal muscle by approximately 20% compared to controls.
The benefits extended beyond muscle: thymol prevented excess liver fat accumulation in an obesity model and improved heat stress resilience in C. elegans.
This activation of cellular cleanup mechanisms mimics the benefits of caloric restriction and intermittent fasting, making these molecules promising for healthspan promotion.
Your Action:
You can easily incorporate these beneficial compounds into your diet. Thymol and carvacrol are abundant in oregano and thyme essential oils. Use these herbs liberally in your cooking or consider high-quality oregano essential oil to boost your body’s natural autophagy and resilience.
Bottom Line:
Thymol and carvacrol promote a powerful, protective cellular cleanup, offering a nutrition-based strategy to improve resilience and delay biological decline.
Source:
Herbal terpenoids activate autophagy and mitophagy through modulation of bioenergetics and protect from metabolic stress, sarcopenia and epigenetic aging, Nature Aging, Gabriele Civiletto, et al.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-025-00957-4
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Disclaimer:
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen.