Prodrugs of urolithins and uses thereof

1. A compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof: wherein:

wherein:

A, B, and C are H,

D is selected from H and OR 1 ,

W, X and Y are each independently selected from H and OR 1 ,

Z is selected from H and OR 1 ;

provided that at least one of D, W, X, Y and Z is OR 1 ;

each R 1 is independently H or C(═O)R 2 , and at least one R 1 group is C(═O)R 2 ;

each R 2 is selected from:

CHR 3 NHR 4 , where R 4 is H and R 3 is a group selected from CH 3 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ) 2 , CH(CH 3 )CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 Ph, CH 2 -3-(1H-indole), CH 2 CH 2 SCH 3 , CH 2 OH, CHOHCH 3 , CH 2 SH, CH 2 SeH and CH 2 PhpOH,

wherein said R 3 group can optionally be substituted by one or more groups selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, OR A or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

or R 3 and R 4 together with the C and N atoms to which they are attached form a 5-membered heteroalkyl ring,

wherein said heteroalkyl ring can optionally be substituted by one or more groups selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, OR A or C 1 -C 3 alkyl,

wherein R A is C 1 -C 4 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more halogen, cyano or nitro groups.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein W is H, X is H, Y is H; and Z is OR 1 .

3. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is CHR 3 NHR 4 where R 4 is H and R 3 is selected from CH 3 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ) 2 , CH(CH 3 )CH 2 CH 3 , or R 3 and R 4 together with the C and N atoms to which they are attached form an unsubstituted 5-membered heteroalkyl ring.

4. The compound of claim 3 , wherein the compound is selected from:

5. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of claim 1 ; and a carrier.

6. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 5 , wherein W, X and Y are H, and D and Z are both OR 1 , and

each R 1 is independently H or C(═O)R 2 , and at least one R 1 group is C(═O)R 2 ;

each R 2 is selected from:

CHR 3 NHR 4 where R 4 is H and R 3 is selected from CH 3 , CH 2 CH(CH 3 ) 2 , CH(CH 3 )CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 Ph, CH 2 -3-(1H-indole), CH 2 CH 2 SCH 3 , CH 2 OH, CHOHCH 3 , CH 2 SH, CH 2 SeH and CH 2 PhpOH,

wherein said R 3 group can optionally be substituted by one or more groups selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, OR A or C 1 -C 4 alkyl,

or R 3 and R 4 together with the C and N atoms to which they are attached form a 5-membered heteroalkyl ring, wherein said heteroalkyl ring can optionally be substituted by one or more groups selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, OR A or C 1 -C 3 alkyl, wherein R A is C 1 -C 4 alkyl, optionally substituted with one or more halogen, cyano or nitro groups.

7. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 5 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is in the form of a solution or suspension.

8. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 5 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is in the form of a powder or granules suitable for solution or suspension in an aqueous medium.

9. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 5 , further comprising a further active ingredient selected from rapamycin, resveratrol, metformin, and spermidine.

10. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 5 , wherein W is H, X is H, Y is H; and Z is OR 1 .

11. A food, beverage or dietary supplement containing a compound of claim 1 .

12. The food, beverage or dietary supplement of claim 11 , which is in the form of a food additive, a food ingredient, a functional food, a medical food, a nutraceutical, a food supplement, a functional beverage, or a gel.