This technology utilizes linalyl acetate—a fragrance ingredient used in over 1,000 tons annually in cosmetics, shampoos, soaps, and household detergents—as an active ingredient in pharmaceutical compositions and food products for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. Linalyl acetate increases blood IGF-1 levels, which enhances muscle fiber cross-sectional area and restores body weight lost due to sarcopenia.
Sarcopenia is a progressive systemic syndrome characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with age. It has become a significant public health issue, increasing economic burdens, hospital stays, and mortality rates, yet no FDA-approved therapeutic drugs currently exist. Non-pharmacological approaches like exercise and diet have yielded inconsistent results, and while linalyl acetate has been reported to have diabetes-preventive and vascular-protective effects, its efficacy for sarcopenia was previously unknown.
Focusing on the fact that IGF-1, which is essential for muscle growth, differentiation, and regeneration, promotes protein synthesis via the PI3K/Akt pathway, this technology works by using linalyl acetate to elevate blood IGF-1 levels and thicken muscle fibers. Applications include not only geriatric sarcopenia but also disuse atrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and myasthenia gravis. It can be applied to sarcopenia treatments for the elderly, management of disuse atrophy in bedridden patients, and muscle-strengthening supplements for seniors. By repurposing a widely produced and distributed fragrance ingredient as a muscle-protective agent, development costs and raw material supply burdens are significantly reduced.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Education for research into the regulatory mechanisms of aromatic natural extracts in animal models of hypertension induced by chronic stress accompanied by hypermotility of the intestines.
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