Urolithin Administration for Autophagy Activation and Longevity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Reduced levels of autophagy are associated with aging and various pathologies, including obesity, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, and age-related macular degeneration, necessitating the need for compounds that can stimulate autophagy to enhance longevity and health.

Innovation Solution

Administration of urolithins or their precursors to animals, cells, or eukaryotic cells in vitro, which are known to increase autophagy and longevity by interacting with specific pathways and markers such as LC3-II/LC3-I and p-AMPKα/AMPKα, thereby enhancing cellular recycling and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If autophagy levels are allowed to decrease naturally with aging, then the organism follows normal aging progression, but this leads to accumulation of defective proteins and organelles, causing various pathologies and reduced longevity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecellular function maintenanceVSAvoidorganism longevity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by administering urolithins or their precursors to alter the autophagy parameter in aged organisms. Urolithins are metabolites that can be converted to ellagic acid, which then modulates autophagy-related parameters (such as LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and p-AMPKα/AMPKα ratio) to restore autophagy levels, thereby improving cellular function maintenance and extending longevity without requiring fundamental changes to the aging process itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If compounds like rapamycin, resveratrol, metformin, or spermidine are administered to stimulate autophagy, then autophagy levels increase and longevity may be extended, but this introduces additional substance administration requirements and potential side effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautophagy inductionVSAvoidtreatment regimen complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses urolithins and their precursors as intermediary substances that indirectly stimulate autophagy through metabolic conversion. Instead of directly administering complex autophagy-inducing compounds like rapamycin, the body converts urolithin precursors into active metabolites (urolithins A-D) that then trigger autophagy pathways. This intermediary approach simplifies the treatment regimen while achieving the desired autophagy induction effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12576065B2Enhancing autophagy or increasing longevity by administration of urolithins

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 AMAZENTIS SA

AI summary

Disclosed are methods, compounds, and compositions useful for increasing autophagy and promoting longevity. The methods, compounds, and compositions relate to urolithins and urolithin precursors and use thereof. Certain urolithins are represented by Formula I, while certain urolithin precursors are represented by Formula IV. The urolithin may be urolithin A, urolithin B, urolithin C, or urolithin D. The urolithin precursor may be ellagic acid or an ellagitannin. The methods include in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro uses of the compounds and compositions.