GH3 - GEROVITAL Articles (IX)Gerovital-H3®: It's Prophylactic and Regenerative Effects
By Mircea Dumitru M.D., PhD.In 1956, Aslan brought forth her work "A new method for the prophylaxis and treatment of old age with Novacaine-Substance H3" at the institute of chemical physiology, Berne, Switzerland (1) and at the "Deutsche Therapiewoche" congress in Karlsruhe, Germany (2).
Since then, over the past 42 years, valuable literature on Gerovital-H3® has accumulated consisting of the confirmation of Aslan's geriatric-method, and Gerovital-H3®'s regenerating and prophylactic actions.
Studies conducted by the National Institute in Bucharest and those carried on by other authors have pointed out the general action excerpted by Gerovital-H3® on the aging process, and its action on chronic diseases, the frequency of which increases with advancing age (3,4).
Clinically, Gerovital treated patients show more desire to live, diminished depression and anxiety, increased physical and intellectual capacities, diminished extrapyramidal rigidity, better skin, hair and nail trophicity, less senile spots and keratosis, growth and regimentation of the hair color, increased muscular strength and joint mobility and faster knitting of accidental fractures.
Gerovital and regeneration
Aslan checked these clinical facts experimentally (5), the research showed Gerovital-H3® to have regenerative effects on the liver tissue, bone marrow and it shortened the time required by bone knitting after experimental fractures in rats (5).
An experimental study was conducted by Aslan on 1840 rats, it made evident an 18% to 21% life span extension in the treated rats as compared to control rats injected with saline solution.
The treated old animals also displayed better general trophicity, thick and glossy fur, higher resistance to acute diseases, increased resistance to exercise and better answers to memory and behaviour tests as against the control group. At the age of 24 months, the treated animals with Gerovital-H3® scored better in learning and memorizing the maze (6), (see figure 1 below).
The histological examination of the hearts removed from animals treated with Aslan's Gerovital-H3® revealed connective invasion more reduced than in the controls; the degenerative modifications of the renal tubes were fewer and less severe in the treated animals as were the involutive changes found in other organs.
The laboratory studies conducted on Drosophila melanogaster revealed a 22.7% life span extension in individuals cultivated in a medium containing 0.005mg Gerovital-H3® /ml, in comparison with control group (p 0.01). Similar results were obtained with secondary cultures of monkey renal cells.
Gerovital-H3® in a concentration of 0.4ml% induced the extension of the post-mitotic life span renal cells by 16%, meanwhile the normal signs of aging were noted in the untreated cells (7,8).
Gerovital-H3® effects on aging embryo fibroblasts of the rat and their life span in cultures were studied by Officer (9). He noticed that Gerovital-H3® added to the cultures in the 7th to 9th passages reduced the time required by cell replication, which thus continued for 2 to 5 generations more than in control cultures. When added to cultures in which the replication had ceased, Gerovital-H3® extended cell life span, it also prevented the spontaneous change into a continuos cell line.
Regarding the regeneration of cells, I recall Schedel's experiment with procaine injections around a wound (10). This enabled him to cure an ulceration caused by Rontgen therapy. The histologic examination of the wound revealed the appearance of the granulation tissue after a 3-week treatment along with the accumulation of the so-called "regeneration cells" around many vessels (see figure 2 over).
The age-related accumulation of lipofuscin within the nervous cells is now well known, so the action of Gerovital-H3® was studied on rats under 6 to 18 months old. Histologically and histochemically, the number of entirely lipofuscin-loaded pyramidal and Purkinje cells from the brain cortex and cerebellum was much lower (19.4 in treated vs. control animals- 72.8) (11,12).
In an experiment study on the nootropic effects of Gerovital-H3® upon the central nervous system in rats, it was noted that Gerovital-H3® had protective consequences against anoxia by curarization or closed circuit (13).
Gerovital- protection against infection
The higher resistance to infections of the patients under Gerovital-H3® treatment was also remarked on by Aslan (14), her observations showed that;
69.1% of the patients under long-term treatment with Gerovital-H3® did not catch any disease.
Overall the death rate in the Gerovital-H3® group was 3.3% compared to a much higher rate of 12.9% in the control group.
The patients under long-term Gerovital-H3® treatment were less prone to infectious diseases, both in the cases of seasonal influenza epidemics and whenever the environmental conditions favoured the onset of acute repiratory pathology (15).
The prophylactic studies which consisted in administering Gerovital-H3® to people over 40 years old indicated the decrease in morbidity rates leading to the reduction in the number of sick days off work by 39%, when compared to the pre-treatment period (16).(Ed.- In fact the Romanian government was so impressed by this potential productivity/ economic improving potential, that it subsidised the cost of the Gerovital-H3® to its people!)
Further experimental researches conducted by Raskova (17) showed that procaine injected into mice increased their resistance to Shigella shigea; (and when maintained by periodical procaine injections) this resistance was passively transmitted to their offspring!With subsequent investigations, I will try to pinpoint the mechanism by which Gerovital-H3® enhances the organism's defence ability, but for now, Gerovital-H3® prevents or alleviates chronic diseases which are caused by mechanisms closely dependent upon the general involution of the organism and implicity of the immune structures and functions.
Some researchers found out that low auto-antibody levels in aged people treated with Gerovital H-3 over long periods (18), this data points to Aslan's treatment ability to hamper the impairment of those structures susceptible to become antigen sources for the production of auto-antibodies. This treatment appears as effective in preventing auto-aggression phenomena in the aged. As the lymphocyte binding ability decreases with advancing age, Gerovital-H3® preserves lymphocyte reactivity on which the cell-mediated immune response is based.
The increased resistance of the organism against the manifold environmental aggression (infections, toxins, stress) is also prevented by the decline in cortisol levels (19).
Dr. Aslan published her findings on the functional study of the cortex and basic nuclei in aged and young people by way of conditioned vascular reflexes (20,21). Since then Tzobkallo C.T. has confirmed these results by means of experimental salivary conditioned reflexes.
These authors claim that small doses of 1-2mg procaine/ Kg body weight injected subcutaneously stimulate the higher nervous activity. Large doses of 10-20mg procaine/ Kg body weight have an anti-depressing effect (22) (see figure 3).
Gerovital - experiments in the USA!
Experiments using procaine according to Aslan's method were conducted in the united states, where they concentrated upon mental disorders.
In a double-blind trial on 30 elderly patients, Zung using Gerovital-GH3®, placebo and imipramine emulated Aslan's Gerovital-H3® efficiency in depressed people (23). Data published by the American authors drew attention on the change induced by aging and depressive states in the enzymatic activity of the nervous cell, as well as the antidepressive effect of Gerovital-H3® (24,25).
These studies have provided a view of potential importance regarding the Gerovital-H3® antioxidant action (26). The author found out that Gerovital-H3® exerted an inhibition on the generation of the superoxide radical in a nonenzymatic system. It was shown that Gerovital-H3® determined a decrease in the erythrocyte susceptibility to auto-oxidation, and it was suggested that this geriatric product might play an important role in the erythrocyte antioxidant protective mechanisms.
In a study on the prophylactic effects of the treatment with Gerovital-H3®, it has been discovered that there are significant increases in the serum HDL-C concentrations (good cholesterol) of the HDL-C percentages of the serum total cholesterol, decreases in the triglyceride levels and a tendency to return towards the normal lipid profile (table available upon request) (26).
Gerovital-GH3®, the original procaine-based product, exerts its effects on the atherogenesis process by several interdependent mechanisms, consisting either in diminishing the level of plasmatic lipoproteins and lipids, or in the effect exerted on the erythrocyte membrane (an increase in membrane fluidity and a protection against osmotic hemolysis), or by the antioxidant mechanisms reducing the oxidative stress exerted on the membrane structure and on the HDL (see figure 4).
On the occasion of the International Scientific Manifestation "Medizinischewoche" in Baden-Baden Germany (November/ 1985), while concluding the Gerontology and Geriatrics Section, Prof. Dr. Paul Luth (Germany) remarked "Gerovital-H3® treatment and Aslan's method represent the most efficient therapeutic procedure in Pregeriatrics (40-65 years old) and Geriatrics (more than 65 years old) in the prevention of aging disorders and chronic diseases."Gerovital-H3® is still made in Romania to Dr. Ana Aslan's original formula. It is available in 100mg tablets or 5ml injectable ampoules. English instructions are made available with every purchase.
REFERENCES
1). Ana Aslan: Novocain als Eutophischer Factor und die Moglichkeit einer Verlangerung der Lebensdauer. Therapeutische Umschau, 1956, 9, 165-172.
(2). Ana Aslan: Eine Neue Methode zur Prophylaxe und Behandlung des Alterns mit Novokain-Stoff H3, Eutrophische und Verjungende Wirkung. Therapiewoche, 1956, 7, 1-2, 14-22.
(3). Ana Aslan: La Novocaine H3 dans la Therapeutique de la Vieillesse. Rev. Franc. Geront., 1958, 4, 321-330. Paris.
(4). Ana Aslan: Procaine Therapy in Old Age Disorders (Novocaine Factor H3). Geront. Clin., 1960, 2-3, 148-172. Basal.
(5). Ana Aslan: The Therapeutics of Old Age. The Action of Procaine- Clinical and Experimental Conclusions. In: Medical and Clinical Aspects of Aging-Ed. H.T. Blumenthal, Columbia Univ. Press, 1962, 4, 272-292, New York.
(6). Ana Aslan et col: Long-term Treatment with procaine (Gerovital-H3®) in Albino Rats. J. Geront., 1965, 20, 1, 1-8.
(7). Ana Aslan et col: Behaviour of Renal Cells in Long-term Cultures. Influence of cemotherapy with Gerovital-H3®. 10th Int. Congress of Geront., Jerusalem. Abstracts 1976, p6.
(8). Ana Aslan et col.:Researchers on Monkey Renal Cells Treated "in vitro" with Gerovital-H3®. Romanian J. of G&G, 1980, 1,1, 41-46.
(9). Cracium E., Mares V.: Les modifications des Tissus Conjonctifs dans la Senescence et la Pathologie du Viellard. Inf. Med. Roum., 1959, 3,3 18-20. Boucarest.
(10). Schedel F.: Lokale Novakaininjectionen zur Behandlung von Strahlenschaden. Zentrbl. Chirurgie, 1958, 83, 44, 2038.
(11). Ana Aslan et col.: The Effect of Gerovital-H3® on the Lipofuscin Pigment from Old Rat Brain, Heart and Testis Evaluated Spectrofluorometrically. Rom. J. of G&G. 1984, 5, 2, 147.
(12). Ana Aslan et col.: Lipofuscin Accumulation in the Brain of the White Wistar Rat in relation to the Eutrophic Medication with Gerovital-H3®. Rom. J. of G&G. 1984, 5, 3, 189.
(13). Stroescu V. et col.: Experimental Studies on the Nootropic Effects Exerted upon the Central Nervous System by Gerovital-H3® versus Procaine and Pyracetam. Rom. J. of G&G. 1985, 6, 2, 105-111.
(14). Ana Aslan: Longitudinal Study in the National Institute of Geront. & Geriatrics of Romania. Excerpta Medica No 469. Proceedings of the IXth Int. Congress of Gerontology, Tokyo, August, 1978, 533-537, and Rom. J. of Geront. & Geriatrics, 1980, 1, 2, 179-187.
(15). Ana Aslan, M. Dumitru, S. Galaftion: The Longitudinal Outpatient Treatment with Gerovital-H3®. Rom. J. of Geront. & Geriatrics. 1980, 1,1, 29-34.
(16). Ana Aslan: Recherches Concernant le Pcocessus de Viellissement et sa Prophylaxie. Travaux du VIII eme Congres Europeen de Gerontologie Clinique. Neptun, Roumanie, I, 1977, 5-13.
(17). Rakova H et col.: Some Pharmacological Properties of Procaine. Arch. Int. Pharm. 1962, 1, 2, 319-326.
(18). Manciulea M. et col.: Antialbumin Antibodies in Old Age and the Influence of Biotrophic Treatment with Gerovital-H3®. Rom. J. of G&G. 1980, 1, 2, 295-299.
(19). Drafta D. et col.: The Effect of Gerovital-H3® Treatment on Plasma Steroids in Elderly People. Rom. J. of G&G. 1981, 2, 1, 85-94.
(20). Parhon C.I., Ana Aslan: Central Nervous Activity in Young and Old People Studied and the Method of Vacular Conditioned Reflexes. The Influence of Hormone and Vitamin Treatments in Old People. Bull. Rom. Acad. Sci., 1955, 5, 2, 417-424.
(21). Ana Aslan: Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Chemotherapeutic Retardation of the Aging Process. Rom. J. of G&G. 1983, 4, 1, 3-14.
(22). Tsobkallo G.I. et col.: Studies of the Functional State of the Brain within the General Action of Procaine. First Int. Congress of Pharmacology. Stockholm, 1961.
(23). Zung W.W.K. et col.: Pharmacology of Depression in the Aged: Evaluation of Gerovital-H3® as an antidepressant Drug. Psychosomatics, 1974, 15, 127-131.
(24). Hrachovec J.P.: Inhibitory Effect of Gerovital-H3® on Monoamine Oxidase of Rat Brain, Liver and Heart. The Physiologist, 1972, 3, 15.
(25). MacFarlane M.D.: Procaine (Geroviral-H3) Therapy: Mechanism of Inhibition if Monoamineoxidase. J. Am. Geriat. Soc. 1974, XXII, 8, 365-371.
(26). Russu C. et col.: Antioxidant and Lipid lowering Effect of Original Procaine-based Product- Gerovital-H3®. The 16th Congress of the International Association of Gerontology. Adelaide, 1997. Book of Abstracts, p217.
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