The quest for a youthful, vibrant life is a journey that many are eager to embark on. Among the many paths 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 senescent cells that have stopped dividing and accumulate with age, leading to a variety of age-related diseases.
Fighting against aging cells
Senescent cells, once beneficial in healing wounds and preventing cancer, become harmful as 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 for fighting aging and improving health. This is where quercetin enters the battlefield.
Quercetin as a senolytic agent
Studies have revealed quercetin’s senolytic properties, meaning it can selectively eliminate senescent cells. In particular, quercetin has shown promise against senescent human endothelial cells and mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. A notable study found that the combination of dasatinib (a drug used to treat some types of cancer) and quercetin significantly reduced the burden of senescent cells in humans. This combination, often abbreviated as D+Q, selectively eliminates senescent cells by temporarily disabling the pro-survival networks that defend them against their self-destructive environment.
Impact on skin health
Skin, the largest organ and most visible marker of age, benefits from quercetin’s senolytic effects. In older skin, senescent cells prevent wounds from closing, leading to chronic wounds. However, eliminating these cells with therapies such as dasatinib and quercetin speeds up the healing process, especially in radiation-exposed skin, where senescent cells promote the development of radiation ulcers.
Future opportunities
Quercetin’s journey from dietary flavonoid to potential anti-aging arsenal is exciting, but much remains to be explored. Larger human studies are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of quercetin and its combination with other senolytics such as dasatinib.
Quercetin’s promise in the anti-aging arena is a testament to nature’s profound ability to nurture and heal. By targeting the cellular culprits of aging, quercetin adds a hopeful chapter to the healthy aging narrative, offering a natural solution for those seeking fuller, healthier lives as they age.
Sources:
- 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