Theories on the Causes of Aging

There exists several theories explaining the process of aging. Each specific case has its specific factor or sometimes their combination.

1) Programmed aging (theory of circadian rhythm). Aging of cells is programmed on genetic level. The number of possible cell splittings are put by the nature once and forever. When cells begin to die faster than to restore themselves, body organs cannot perform all their essential functions anymore.

2) Genetic theory. Cells contain a substance that destroys them at chromosomal level.

3) Structural theory. With age occurs aggravation of condition of connective tissue - it loses its firmness and elasticity which leads to irreversible changes.

4) Theory of free radicals is most popular theory today. The theory suggests that chemical reactions in cells lead to formation of free radicals which cause damage and death of cells. With time the number of dead and non-functional cells increases which breaks work of the whole body.

5) Immunologic theory. With age immune system weakens. Body becomes more vulnerable to infectious diseases and disorders which finally leads to death. Weakening of immune system leads to triggering of autoimmune responses – body detects its own cells as foreign ones and destroys them.

Cumin Slows Down Aging

Bitter cumin is widely used in traditional medicine in treatment of various diseases - from vitiligo to hyperglycosemia. This spice has antiparasitic and antimicrobic properties and may be also used as antifebrile and pain-killer remedy.

Now one more advantage may be added to those mentioned above: scientists from Indian Central Food Technological Research Institute claim that cumin... slows down aging. Here again do help wonderful properties of antioxidants (substances that reduce oxidative stress and prevent from diseases) of relieving free radicals from the body. Cumin contains phenolic substances (polyphenols) that are considered antioxidants.

Using various biochemical and biological technologies, Indian researchers studied in experiments this property of bitter cumin seeds. In biologic tests bitter cumin inhibited aging of liposomes that were cellular membrane aging models and provided full protection against DNA damage.

However, the amount of phenols derived from the plant and its antioxidant activity depended on examination methods used. Antioxidant properties of cumin were correlated with common phenol concentration, so perhaps exactly phenolic compounds in bitter cumin seeds are the source of antioxidant properties of the plant.