Large-scale chemical screen identifies Gallic acid as a geroprotector for human stem cells

The interventions that slow aging or promote healthy aging may provide preventative measures for age-related diseases (Zhang et al., 2015). Therefore, it is crucial to identify drugs that target aging-related pathologies and improve healthspan in geroscience research. Using model organisms such as C. elegans and rodents, several small molecules capable of alleviating the onset or progression of aging, including rapamycin, nicotinamide mononucleotide, and metformin, have been discovered (Partridge et al., 2020). However, the safety and efficacy of these chemicals still need in-depth evaluation before clinical applications (Partridge et al., 2020). As a result, it is necessary to identify additional compounds with geroprotective effects for human cells to counteract the general trend of populational aging. However, transforming a promising compound into an approved drug requires enormous resources. Alternatively, repurposing previously approved drugs for new clinical applications offers a more efficient and less costly path toward drug development. Therefore, testing U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for geroprotective effects may discover new therapeutics that have already been stringently tested in humans for safety.