The Natural Anti-Aging Weapon "Fisetron": Could It Become a New Hope for Alleviating Chikungunya Virus?

When viruses invade joints, the yellow crystals in strawberries—fisetin—are quietly activating anti-inflammatory pathways in the body, clearing accumulated senescent cells over the years. This seemingly ordinary natural compound is emerging as a new hope for modern medicine in combating aging and chronic diseases.

Nisethone is currently identified as one of the most potent plant-derived components for senescent cell clearance. Experimental studies have demonstrated that intermittent supplementation with 500 mg/kg of nisethone effectively eliminates senescent cells in progeria mice, extending their lifespan by approximately 10%.

The anti-aging mechanism of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is the result of multidimensional synergistic effects:

✅ Basic defense: direct scavenging of free radicals and enhancement of endogenous antioxidant systems;

✅ Core repair: induction of autophagy through inhibition of mTOR and activation of the Pink1-Parkin pathway to eliminate damaged components;

✅ Systemic optimization: targeted clearance of senescent cells, suppression of inflammation, and improvement of metabolism.

A study published in Food Bioscience in July 2025 revealed a novel mechanism of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in combating neuroinflammation: they precisely target histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) and activate the intracellular NRF2 antioxidant pathway. In experiments, NSAIDs at concentrations as low as 5-10 μM significantly inhibited microglial inflammatory responses, reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory factors such as IL-1β and TNF-α, and simultaneously protected neurons from damage.

The cardiovascular protective effects of fisetron are multidimensional:

✅ Anti-atherosclerosis: By activating the FXR receptor, it promotes the liver's conversion of cholesterol into bile acids and enhances intestinal excretion, resulting in a 35% reduction in arterial plaques in high-fat diet mice.

✅ Inhibition of vascular calcification: A study published in Aging in April 2025 demonstrated that fisetron elevates the level of DUSP1 protein in vascular smooth muscle cells, thereby blocking the calcification-inducing p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

✅ Anti-oxidative stress: It significantly increases superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by 1.8-fold and reduces vascular oxidative damage.

The research on nonsteroids exemplifies the perfect integration of traditional wisdom and modern technology—substances discovered in everyday fruits such as strawberries and apples are now being leveraged through nanotechnology and molecular biology as powerful tools against aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. With the global population aging and the increasing burden of chronic diseases, the value of these multi-target, low-toxicity natural molecules is becoming increasingly prominent.