Much of the interest in fisetin has centered around its potential to help slow aging and extend a healthy lifespan.

Aging is characterized by the buildup of senescent cells – cells that stop dividing, become damaged, and start releasing inflammatory molecules.

As we accumulate more and more of these senescent cells, the body starts being affected. These cells start damaging healthy tissue. They contribute to many age-related diseases – from osteoporosis and cancer to heart and brain diseases.

Removing senescent cells calms inflammation, improves physical function, and increases lifespan in animals.

Certain plant compounds are able to destroy senescent cells without harming healthy cells. In a 2018 cell-based study of 10 such compounds, fisetin was the most effective one. In old mice, fisetin cleared senescent cells and increased their lifespan by over 10%.

Because of this study, researchers got particularly interested in “senolytic” or “senotherapeutic” properties of fiestin.

Fisetin also extended the lifespan of yeast by more than 50% and the lifespan of fruit flies by more than 20%.

Because of these promising results, a clinical trial is underway to see if fisetin is effective for reducing inflammation and improving frailty and bone health in elderly people.