Can Fisitin prevent the damage broken cells wreak on our aging bodies?
By Jane Kuszmaul
No one compound or molecule is the magic bullet to stop aging or cancer or disease, but more and more research is investigating several specific molecules’ roles in these life defining processes. One such compound is Fisetin, a flavonoid from the polyphenol group that may extend life span.
Specifically, Fisetin may play a role in helping manage senescent cells. Senescent cells are cells that should break down and when they stop working, but instead continue around the body malfunctioning. Their continued signaling can lead to a number of problems over time, which become more prevalent with age.
Senescence prevents these cells with damaged DNA from replicating and for example, creating tumors. This study tested how effective a variety of different flavonoid compounds are preventing these senescent cells, and found that Fisetin was the most potent. In mice Fisetin was able to extend lifespan and return their bodies to homeostasis.
The trial was so promising that human trials will untangle metabolic details, and Fisetin may become the next powerful tool in reducing age related pathologies.
