Strawberry, an anti-inflammatory “Energy fruit”.
Why? Because it has a natural flavonoid in its body – Fisetin.
Where does it come from and where does it go? Let’s explore the journey of the life of Fisetin together.
The Source of Fisetin:
- Extracted from Cotinus coggygria;
- Extracted from plants such as the wax tree,Rhus vernciflua Stokes;
- Extracted from fruits and vegetables, such as apples, persimmons, grapes, kiwis, strawberries, onions and cucumbers and ect.
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are natural compounds found in fruits and vegetables, with a total of six different types.
Flavonoids have antioxidant activity, could help regulate cellular activity and fight free radicals, reducing oxidative stress in the body.Flavonoids show “potential as anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, chemiotherapy and aging drugs,” according to research published in Scientific Journal of Frontier Chemical Developmen. They have attracted widespread attention for their anti-aging properties.
Mechanism
In 1966, an article published in “Nature” stated that fisetin was one of the flavonoids with the strongest antibacterial effect known at that time, requiring only 50 μg/ml to effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus,which drew the attention of scientists to the pharmacological effects of fisetin. In subsequent studies on fisetin, scientists discovered that it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
As a flavonoid, fisetin has natural antioxidant properties. It not only has direct antioxidant activity, but also increases the level of the main antioxidant glutathione in cells. Even in the case of oxidative stress, fisetin can maintain mitochondrial function well, and even very fragile neuron cells can be well protected.
In addition to its own antioxidant talent, its anti-inflammatory effect should not be underestimated. Fisetin inhibits the NF-κB pro-inflammatory signaling pathway by activating β-catenin protein and silencing the expression of TLR4, which in turn down-regulates the release of inflammatory cytokines and achieves anti-inflammatory effects.
Application of Fisetin:
Antioxidants
Studies have shown that fisetin has the ability to scavenge free radicals with significant biological effects. These oxygen radicals damage lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. When we do not consume enough antioxidant foods, an imbalance of oxygen species occurs, which inhibits the body’s ability to defend itself.
Anti-aging Activity
Research published in ‘The Lancet’ shows that fisetin, a flavonoid, has potent anti-aging activity in both mice and human tissues. This means that antioxidants could prevent the replication of damaged DNA and thus may play a role in aging and age-related diseases. When researchers tested 10 flavonoids(including resveratrol, rutin, luteolin, curcumin, and fisetin),they found that fisetin was the most effective anti-aging material.
Reduce Inflammation
According to research published in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, fisetin has been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory effects in cell cultures and in animal models associated with human disease.
Promotes Healthy Aging
Research shows that fisetin promotes healthy aging by reducing oxidative stress and increasing levels of glutathione, a major intracellular antioxidant. It also reduces the production of pro-inflammatory molecules and activates key neurotrophin signaling pathways that support growth, survival and healthy aging.
References:
.https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3582
.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8009086/
.https://www.nature.com/articles/2121273a0
