This review paper systematically examines the evidence for fullerenes — particularly C60 — as anti-aging compounds. The authors detail how C60's unique spherical structure allows it to function as a catalytic antioxidant, neutralizing multiple reactive oxygen species simultaneously without being consumed in the process. The review concludes that C60's antioxidant properties represent a fundamentally different and more powerful category of protection than conventional antioxidants like vitamins C and E, and supports its potential in addressing the oxidative stress mechanisms underlying biological aging.

This mechanistic study investigates precisely how C60 achieves its antioxidant effects at the cellular level. Researchers propose that C60 interacts with mitochondrial processes in a unique way — absorbing excess protons and modulating the balance of mitochondrial respiration and energy production. This action reduces the generation of harmful reactive oxygen species at the source, rather than simply neutralizing them after the fact. The paper establishes the theoretical and experimental basis for why C60's antioxidant capacity exceeds that of traditional antioxidant molecules by such a wide margin.

Amyloid-beta peptide accumulation in the brain is the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, researchers injected amyloid-beta directly into the hippocampus of rats and measured the resulting memory impairment and neuronal damage. Animals pretreated with C60 showed significantly reduced neurotoxicity and preserved cognitive function compared to the untreated group. The findings suggest C60's antioxidant and neuroprotective properties may help shield brain cells from the type of oxidative damage associated with neurodegenerative conditions.

This study used EEG monitoring to observe the effects of amyloid-beta infusion on brain electrical activity in rats, then evaluated whether C60 pretreatment could prevent the disruption. Amyloid-beta infusion significantly disrupted the normal relationship between cortical and hippocampal brain activity — a pattern consistent with cognitive impairment. Animals that received hydrated C60 before the amyloid-beta infusion showed preserved EEG patterns, indicating that C60 provided meaningful neurological protection. The findings add electrophysiological evidence to the case for C60's neuroprotective effects.

Neuroinflammation — chronic inflammation in the brain — is a feature of conditions ranging from Alzheimer's disease to traumatic brain injury. This study examined how C60 derivatives affect microglial cells, the brain's primary immune responders. When these cells were stimulated to produce an inflammatory response, treatment with C60 suppressed excessive mitochondrial fragmentation, blocked reactive oxygen species production, and inhibited the activation of NF-κB and MAPK — two key inflammatory signaling pathways. The researchers concluded that C60's mitochondria-targeting antioxidant action is central to its ability to reduce neuroinflammation.

This study directly measured the effect of C60 on skeletal muscle fatigue in rats using electrical stimulation to induce muscle contractions until exhaustion. Animals treated with C60 showed significantly faster recovery of contraction force after fatigue and were able to sustain activity for longer before fatigue set in. Remarkably, the protective effect of C60 exceeded that of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) — a well-established antioxidant supplement widely used in athletic contexts — by 28 to 44%. The findings point to C60's superior free-radical scavenging at the mitochondrial level as the key mechanism.

Building on prior muscle fatigue research, this study directly compared C60 to two of the most studied performance-support compounds: N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and β-Alanine. Researchers measured skeletal muscle contractile function and fatigue development under controlled conditions. C60 produced reductions in fatigue onset and improvements in recovery time that were statistically comparable to both established compounds. The effect of C60 appeared within four days of administration and remained consistent throughout the test period, supporting its viability as a performance and recovery support compound.

This 2024 study examined C60's role in recovering from traumatic muscle injury — a scenario relevant not just to athletes but to anyone recovering from physical damage. Researchers induced trauma to rat soleus muscles and then administered C60 during the recovery period. The C60 group showed significantly improved muscle contractile function (28–40% better) and markedly improved biochemical blood markers associated with tissue health and inflammation (15–34% improvement). The findings support C60 as a promising agent for accelerating muscle recovery and reducing the functional deficit that follows injury.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is driven by an overactive immune response and chronic skin inflammation. In this mouse model study, researchers applied C60 both subcutaneously and topically in an established atopic dermatitis model. The C60-treated groups showed significant suppression of IgE (a key marker of allergic response) and Th2 cytokines — the immune signaling molecules that drive inflammatory skin conditions. Concurrently, Th1 cytokines increased, suggesting a beneficial rebalancing of immune activity. The findings support C60 as an anti-inflammatory agent with meaningful topical potential.

This study evaluated a water-soluble C60 formulation for topical anti-inflammatory activity. In a standardized rat ear swelling test — a classic model for measuring skin inflammation — animals in the C60 group showed swelling reduced to less than 10% of the control. The anti-inflammatory potency was measured at approximately 10 times greater than dipotassium glycyrrhizinate and five times greater than tanshinone — both established topical anti-inflammatory agents. The results underscore C60's exceptional anti-inflammatory potential for skin applications and support its use in topical formulations.

Chronic alcohol consumption produces severe oxidative stress in liver tissue, leading to inflammation, cell damage, and ultimately liver disease. This study examined whether C60 could protect against this damage. Rats subjected to chronic alcohol intoxication showed the expected markers of liver damage — elevated liver enzymes, oxidative stress indicators, and histological tissue changes. Animals that also received C60 showed significantly reduced levels of liver damage across all measured parameters. The results support C60's hepatoprotective properties and its ability to mitigate oxidative damage in one of the body's most critical organs.

This study assessed C60's effects under conditions of chemically-induced cholangitis — inflammation of the bile ducts that damages both the liver and pancreas. The model used is recognized as a valid representation of inflammatory biliary disease. Animals treated with C60 showed inhibited liver inflammation, reduced fibrogenesis (scar tissue formation), and partial recovery of both liver and pancreas function compared to the untreated group. The findings expand C60's liver-protective profile beyond alcohol damage to broader inflammatory conditions affecting the hepatobiliary system.

Obesity is closely linked to chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysfunction driven partly by oxidative stress. This study placed rats on a high-fat diet to induce obesity, then evaluated the effect of C60 supplementation on metabolic outcomes. The C60-treated group showed normalization of multiple metabolic parameters, partial reduction in BMI, and a significant decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines — the signaling molecules that perpetuate the chronic inflammation characteristic of obesity. The researchers identified C60 as a promising therapeutic candidate for obesity and its related metabolic complications.

This study evaluated the anti-tumor potential of C60 fullerene in vivo and compared it directly to 5-Fluorouracil — one of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs — and a pyrrole derivative. The C60 group showed a significant reduction in both the number of tumors and total tumor area compared to controls. While C60 was not positioned as a replacement for established cancer treatment, the findings demonstrate that its antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties translate into measurable anti-tumor activity in a living system, adding to the breadth of biological effects documented across the C60 research literature.