Benefits
Senolytic Activity (Eliminates Senescent Cells)
Yousefzadeh 2018 (Mayo Clinic) screening identified fisetin as the most potent natural senolytic among tested flavonoids. Selectively eliminates senescent ('zombie') cells that accumulate with age and drive chronic inflammation/aging. Animal evidence shows extended healthspan with intermittent fisetin dosing.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Reduces inflammatory cytokine production via NF-κB inhibition, reduces SASP (senescence-associated secretory phenotype) markers. Particularly relevant for chronic age-related inflammation ('inflammaging').
Neuroprotection (Animal Evidence)
Animal models of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and traumatic brain injury show neuroprotective effects. Human translation pending.
Cardiovascular Support
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in vascular tissue. Modest clinical evidence; mostly mechanistic and animal data.
Antioxidant Activity
Direct free radical scavenging and Nrf2 pathway activation — supports endogenous antioxidant defense systems.
Mechanism of action
Senolytic Pathway — BCL-2 Family Modulation
Senescent cells survive via upregulated anti-apoptotic proteins (BCL-2, BCL-xL). Fisetin inhibits these survival pathways, triggering apoptosis selectively in senescent cells. Healthy cells have lower BCL-2 dependency and are spared. Mechanism is dose-dependent and requires high concentrations — basis for HIT (high-intensity intermittent) dosing protocols.
PI3K/Akt/mTOR Inhibition
Fisetin inhibits PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling — pathway involved in cellular senescence maintenance. Reduces SASP factors that drive inflammaging.
NF-κB and Inflammatory Pathway Inhibition
Reduces inflammatory cytokine production at multiple levels — TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 reduction in vitro and in vivo.
Nrf2 Activation
Activates Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, upregulating endogenous antioxidant enzymes (glutathione synthase, SOD, catalase, NQO1). Adaptive antioxidant response.
Clinical trials
Screening study of 10 flavonoid compounds for senolytic activity in vitro and in aged mice. Mayo Clinic.
Cell culture and aged mice.
Fisetin identified as most potent natural senolytic — reduced senescent cell burden in multiple tissues, extended healthspan markers in aged mice. Generated significant clinical interest. Established mechanism for HIT senolytic protocols.
Mayo Clinic Phase 2 trial of fisetin (20 mg/kg × 2 days monthly) for frailty in older adults. NCT03675724 + related protocols.
Older adults with frailty.
Trials ongoing; results pending. Notably, this is one of few HUMAN trials testing senolytic protocols with established outcome measures. Will provide important data on whether mouse senolytic effects translate to clinical benefit in humans.