This Antioxidant May Help Clear Zombie Cells & Improve Blood Vessel Health
Key takeaways
- Author: Zhané Slambee April 29, 2026mindbodygreen editor By Zhané Slambee Image by Nataša Mandić / Stocksy April 29, 2026As we age, our blood vessels get stiffer and don't relax as easily.
- Fisetin is a dietary flavonoid that has antioxidant properties, and it's known to be a potent senolytic compound.
- So to study fisetn's senolytic effects, researchers gave 27-month-old mice (very roughly equivalent to humans in their 70s) fisetin supplements on and off over several weeks.
Why this matters: practical guidance grounded in recent research or expert insight.
Author: Zhané Slambee April 29, 2026mindbodygreen editor By Zhané Slambee Image by Nataša Mandić / Stocksy April 29, 2026As we age, our blood vessels get stiffer and don't relax as easily. This makes it harder for blood to flow smoothly, and it's one of the main reasons cardiovascular disease and accelerated aging go hand in hand. But a compound found in strawberries might help. New research1 suggests fisetin, a plant compound that's been making waves in longevity circles, could help reverse some of this damage by clearing out worn-out cells.
Fisetin is a dietary flavonoid that has antioxidant properties, and it's known to be a potent senolytic compound. What does this mean? Fisetin may help clear senescent cells in the body.
Senescent cells are damaged cells that stopped doing their job but refuse to die, which is why scientists call them "zombie cells." Instead of clearing out, they stick around and release inflammatory signals that harm healthy cells nearby.