Quercetin
Quercetin (senolytic flavonoid)
A common dietary flavonoid used as a senolytic, most notably paired with the drug dasatinib in human senescence trials.
Overview
Quercetin is a widely consumed plant flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that also acts as a senolytic. It is best known in longevity research as the partner to the drug dasatinib in the 'D+Q' combination, which reduced senescent cell burden in early human trials in conditions like diabetic kidney disease. On its own, quercetin's senolytic effect is modest, and human longevity benefits are preliminary.
Mechanism of action
Helps trigger death of senescent cells, particularly in combination with dasatinib, and reduces inflammatory signaling.
Key studies & citations
- Animal2015
The Achilles' heel of senescent cells: from transcriptome to senolytic drugs
Identified dasatinib plus quercetin as the first senolytic combination, improving function in aged and progeroid mice.
Aging Cell - Human2019
Senolytics decrease senescent cells in humans: preliminary report from a clinical trial of dasatinib plus quercetin in individuals with diabetic kidney disease
Three days of D+Q reduced adipose and skin senescent cells and circulating SASP factors within 11 days.
EBioMedicine - Human2019
Senolytics in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: results from a first-in-human, open-label, pilot study
14 patients: D+Q was feasible and improved 6-minute walk, gait speed and chair-stand time; no control group.
EBioMedicine
Frequently asked questions
Why is quercetin paired with dasatinib?
Dasatinib and quercetin clear different types of senescent cells, so together (D+Q) they are more effective than either alone in senolytic research.