Stem cells and nutraceuticals: extracts from myrtle modulate oxidative stress and senescence.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes and myocytes if properly stimulated. Adipose tissue represents a good source for stem cell isolation. Human adipose tissue derived stem cells (hADSCs) have recently been proposed as a suitable tool for regeneration therapies for their simple isolation procedure and high proliferative capacity in culture. Oxidative stress can cause damage and senescence in stem cells resulting in loss of regenerative potential of stem cells. The use of natural molecules could counteract the senescence of stem cells and restore their regenerative potential. Myrtus communis L. extracts obtained from fresh or industrial waste pulp and seeds were tested on mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue. In particular, we evaluated the effect of these extracts on the expression of specific genes involved in cell senescence. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (ADSCs) were grown in a basic culturing medium. Cells were cultured in the presence or absence of freeze-dried myrtle extracts (from fresh or industrial waste pulp and seeds) for 12, 24 and 48 hours, and then incubated with H2O2 for 1 hour to induce oxidative stress and senescence. Our results demonstrate that pre-treating cells with the extracts could prevented the expression of genes involved in senescence commitment and the appearance of - Galactosidase staining, a marker of an established cell senescent phenotype. On the whole our results suggest that Myrtus extracts exert important antioxidant and protective activities to defend cells from stressful and harmful conditions.