In aging and longevity research, antioxidants are a central focus due to their crucial role in combating free radicals. Free radicals damage our cells and tissues, accelerate the aging process, and contribute to numerous diseases. A balanced ratio of free radicals and antioxidants is essential for a long and healthy life. Quercetin is a natural plant pigment and a powerful antioxidant that positively influences our health and longevity in various ways¹.
The Power and Potential of Quercetin
Quercetin belongs to the flavonols, a subgroup of flavonoids. Unlike certain antioxidants that our bodies can produce (e.g., glutathione), quercetin is not produced by the body itself. However, it is present in small amounts in foods such as capers, onions, and berries².
Quercetin's fame lies in its potent antioxidant properties³. Its molecular structure allows it to scavenge particularly harmful reactive radicals such as hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite, which are produced as byproducts of metabolism and in response to stress.
This versatile antioxidant is also involved in crucial cell cycle development and plays a key role in cell division and overall cell health, and even in regulating intercellular communication pathways.
Furthermore, quercetin has strong anti-inflammatory effects⁴. When the amount of free radicals exceeds that of natural antioxidants in our body, it can lead to oxidative stress and the activation of inflammation-related genes. Many age-related diseases are the result of chronic inflammation, so quercetin's ability to mitigate this inflammatory process is of great importance for longevity.
Quercetin and Metabolism
Studies have examined the effects of quercetin on plasma insulin levels, blood glucose, pancreatic beta-cell function, and cellular glucose uptake⁵.
Quercetin and the Cardiovascular System
In one study, changes in systolic blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels were observed over ten weeks of quercetin supplementation⁶.
Quercetin and the Brain
Quercetin's ability to regulate apoptosis (programmed cell death) and its neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress are the subject of considerable interest in neuroscience research. Studies have observed, among other things, effects on the survival and formation of nerve cells⁷.
Quercetin and the Joints
Due to its inhibitory effect on inflammation and histamine release, quercetin has also been studied in connection with joint health⁸.
Quercetin as a Senolytic
As we age, more and more dysfunctional, non-dividing, senescent cells accumulate. Normally, senescent cells are removed by the immune system, but as we age, this ability in the body declines, and more and more of these "zombie cells" accumulate. The accumulation of senescent cells is one of the reasons for aging.
Senolytics like quercetin are substances that induce senescent cells to undergo apoptosis (controlled cell death)⁹. Inducing this cellular self-destruction is a possible way to combat the accumulation of senescent cells.
Senescent cells secrete a cocktail of pro-inflammatory signals known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The SASP leads to chronic inflammation and an altered cell-to-cell signaling environment. This persistent inflammation, known as "inflammaging," is considered one of the driving forces of aging. Quercetin reduces inflammation by inhibiting some elements of the SASP¹⁰.
Sirtuin Activation
Sirtuins are a group of proteins associated with the regulation of aging processes and longevity. Some research suggests that quercetin stimulates the activity of sirtuins, thereby positively influencing the aging process¹¹.
The Safe Use of Quercetin
High-quality quercetin as a dietary supplement is obtained from the Japanese Pagoda Tree (bot. Sophora japonica) and is considered well tolerated in moderate dosages¹².
