The search for a youthful, vibrant life is a journey that many are eager to embark on. Among the many pathways being explored, the role of natural compounds such as quercetin has attracted considerable attention. This flavonoid, found abundantly in onions, apples and other fruits and vegetables, is not only a nutrient, but also a potential weapon against aging, specifically targeting aging cells that have stopped dividing and accumulate with age, leading to many age-related diseases.
Fighting aging cells
Aging cells, once beneficial in healing wounds and preventing cancer, become harmful when they accumulate in the body. They secrete harmful substances that cause inflammation and damage surrounding cells, thus fueling the aging process and age-related diseases. Eliminating these cells is a promising strategy to fight aging and improve health. This is where quercetin enters the battlefield.
Quercetin as a senolytic agent
Research has revealed quercetin's senolytic properties, meaning that it can selectively eliminate aging cells. In particular, quercetin has shown promise against aging human endothelial cells and mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. A noteworthy study showed that a combination of dasatinib (a drug used to treat certain types of cancer) and quercetin significantly reduced the burden of aging cells in humans. This combination, often abbreviated as D+Q, selectively eliminates aging cells by temporarily shutting down the pro-survival networks that defend them from their self-destructive environment.
Effects on skin health
The skin, which is the largest organ and the most visible indicator of age, benefits from the senolytic effects of quercetin. In older skin, aging cells prevent wounds from closing, leading to chronic wounds. However, eliminating these cells with therapies such as dasatinib and quercetin accelerates the healing process, especially in radiation-exposed skin, where aging cells promote the formation of radiation ulcers.
Future opportunities
Quercetin's journey from dietary flavonoid to potential anti-aging arsenal is exciting, but much remains to be explored. More extensive human studies are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of quercetin and its combination with other senolytics, such as dasatinib.
Quercetin's promising anti-aging effects are a testament to nature's profound ability to nurture and heal. By targeting the cellular culprits of aging, quercetin advances a hopeful chapter in the healthy aging narrative, offering a natural solution for those seeking a fuller, healthier life as they age.
Żródła:
- Investigation of quercetin and hyperoside as senolytics in adult human endothelial cells
- Senolytic Combination of Dasatinib and Quercetin Alleviates Intestinal Senescence and Inflammation and Modulates the Gut Microbiome in Aged Mice
- Flavonoids in Skin Senescence Prevention
- Targeting senescent cell clearance: An approach to delay aging and age-associated disorders