SIRT1 provides new pharmacological targets for polydatin through its role as a metabolic sensor

The SIRT family of proteins constitutes highly conserved deacetylases with diverse and extensive functions. These proteins have specific biological functions, including regulation of transcription, cell cycle, cell differentiation, apoptosis, stress, metabolism, and genomic stability. Polydatin is a monocrystalline compound isolated from a Chinese herb, Polygonum cuspidatum. The pharmacological mechanisms of polydatin are mostly unclear but involve members of the SIRT protein family, among which SIRT1 plays a vital role. Polydatin is usually considered a potential SIRT1 activator. This review summarizes the signaling mechanism of polydatin involving SIRT1 and discusses the roles of related signal molecules such as PGC-1α, Nrf2, p38-MAPK, NLPR3 inflammasome, and p53. Further, we describe the metabolic regulation of related biological macromolecules and demonstrate that SIRT1, as a metabolic sensor, may act as a new pharmacological target for polydatin.