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Benefits Of Hydrogen Sulfide: It Protects Mitochondria, Counters Free Radicals, Increases Longevity

Hip

Senior Member
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After the theory that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) might be a cause of ME/CFS, some research published in the last few years indicates that very low doses of hydrogen sulfide can protect mitochondria and prevent mitochondrial DNA damage.

And a new compound called AP39 has been developed which is a mitochondrially-targeted H2S donor. Via its generation of H2S, AP39 exerts a protective effect on mitochondria.

Some excerpts from articles about the benefits of hydrogen sulfide and AP39 are given below:

When cells become stressed by disease, they draw in enzymes to generate minute quantities of hydrogen sulfide,” said Professor Matt Whiteman of the University of Exeter Medical School, in the release. “This keeps the mitochondria ticking over and allows cells to live. If this doesn’t happen, the cells die and lose the ability to regulate survival and control inflammation. We have exploited this natural process by making a compound, called AP39, which slowly delivers very small amounts of this gas specifically to the mitochondria. Our results indicate that if stressed cells are treated with AP39, mitochondria are protected and cells stay alive.”

Source: Rotten Eggs May Prevent Mitochondrial Damage; Hydrogen Sulfide Helps Treat Diseases Like Stroke, Heart Attacks, And Dementia


The evidence is mounting, they note, that hydrogen sulfide slows aging by inhibiting free-radical reactions, by activating SIRT1, an enzyme believed to be a regulator of lifespan, and probably through its interactions with a gene, klotho, which appears to have its own market basket of anti-aging activity.

Hydrogen sulfide is produced within the human body, and has a variety of important physiological effects. For example, it relaxes the vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells, which is important to maintaining clean arteries as one ages, says first author Zhi-Sheng Jiang, of the University of South China, Hunan. It functions as an antioxidant. And it inhibits expression of pro-inflammatory factors, all of which "imply an important role in aging and age-associated diseases."

A decline in H2S is also thought to undermine neurological health. Endogenous H2S has been found wanting in an animal model of Parkinson's disease, and is found to be depressed in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. There are even suggestions, mostly in animal models, but also in human studies, that H2S may be protective against cancer, according to the report.

Source: Hydrogen sulfide: The next anti-aging agent?


The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of the recently synthesized mitochondrially-targeted H2S donor, AP39, on bioenergetics, viability, and mitochondrial DNA integrity.

Under oxidative stress conditions induced by glucose oxidase, an increase in oxidative protein modification and an enhancement in MitoSOX oxidation was noted, coupled with an inhibition of cellular bioenergetic function and a reduction in cell viability. AP39 pretreatment attenuated these responses. Glucose oxidase induced a preferential damage to the mitochondrial DNA; AP39 (100 nM) pretreatment protected against it.

In conclusion, the current paper documents antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of AP39 under oxidative stress conditions, including a protection against oxidative mitochondrial DNA damage.

Source: AP39, a novel mitochondria-targeted hydrogen sulfide donor, stimulates cellular bioenergetics, exerts cytoprotective effects and protects against the loss of mitochondrial DNA integrity in oxidatively stressed endothelial cells in vitro


Foods that generate H2S include garlic and onions. This study found that hydrogen sulfide is produced by red blood cells from garlic-derived organic polysulfides.