Fisetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries, apples, and onions. This powerful antioxidant is gaining attention from the health and wellness industry for its potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.
As fisetin research continues to evolve, many people are interested in learning more about this compound and its potential uses. This article will take an in-depth look at the science behind fisetin, its potential benefits, and how you can use it to promote overall health.
What is fisetin?
Fisetin, also known as purpurin and fisetin, appears as a light yellow powder, is easily soluble in ethanol, acetone and acetic acid, and is almost insoluble in water.
Fisetin is a natural compound found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, ranging from 2 micrograms to 160 micrograms per gram of fruit or vegetable. It belongs to a class of compounds called flavonoids. Strawberries have the highest concentration of fisetin (160 μg/g).
Fisetin is well-known for its powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenging capabilities. In recent years, there have been a large number of literature studies on the effects of fisetin, such as antioxidant, anticoagulant, antithrombotic, cancer treatment, etc.
What foods contain Fisetin?
It is found in many common fruits and vegetables, although the amounts vary widely.
Fisetin is prized for its many health benefits and can be found in a variety of natural food sources.
1. Strawberry
Strawberries reign supreme as one of the most palatable sources of fisetin. Indulging in these succulent berries not only appeases your desire for sweetness, but they also provide a robust measure of this beneficial dietary compound.
2. Apple
The time-honoured proverb “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” takes on increased credibility. Notably, substantial amounts of fisetin are found within apples, particularly in their peels.
3. Onions
Essential ingredients such as onions serve a greater purpose than merely enhancing taste in culinary dishes. Notably, the outer layer of onions delivers substantial amounts of fisetin, reflecting their nutritional relevance beyond their common utilitarian role.
4. Grapes
Grapes, specifically the red and purple types, are a prolific source of fisetin. They not only serve as a delightful snack but also offer the manifold advantages inherent to this flavonoid.
5. Persimmon
Whilst persimmons may not be as regularly consumed as other fruits, their notable content of fisetin indeed sets them apart. This unique balance of sweet and subtly tart flavor could serve as an intriguing means to enhance your intake of fisetin.
6. Tomatoes
Tomatoes, frequently found as a key ingredient in salads, sandwiches and an array of culinary dishes, make a significant contribution to the intake of fisetin in our daily nutrition.
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Cucumber
The refreshing cucumbers frequently savored in invigorating summer salads also serve as a viable source of the beneficial compound, fisetin. Incorporation of these into your diet on a consistent basis thus provides an assured method to continually acquire this advantageous substance.
Apparently, strawberries have a much higher concentration of flavonols than other fruits and vegetables, which is probably why people associate them with this fruit. Of course, the supplement industry offers fisetin supplements for those who wish to increase their intake beyond food intake.
The health benefits of fisetin
Fisetin has many beneficial effects on the human body. Like many flavonoids, it is an antioxidant that helps reduce damage caused by free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Additionally, fisetin has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and has many health benefits.
There is evidence that fisetin also has neuroprotective properties (good for nerves and brain cells) and may be beneficial in treating neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and stroke. It also has anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties.
Anticoagulation and thrombolysis
The meticulous in vitro experiments conducted on fisetin and quercetin’s anticoagulation and thrombolysis effects suggested a notable deviation from the negative control group. Evidently, both fisetin and quercetin administered groups experienced an exceptional prolongation of whole blood clotting time.
In addition, these substances were associated with a substantial reduction in the mass of formed thrombi alongside a considerable enhancement rate for thrombus dissolution. Undoubtedly, these findings contribute significantly to our understanding of these compounds’ potential therapeutic benefits for coagulative disorders.
Another set of experiments suggested that fisetin can resist venous thrombosis, and there was no significant difference in its anti-thrombotic effect compared with the aspirin group.
Treatment of osteoporosis
Various scholarly researches consistently demonstrate that fisetin significantly enhances the osteoid secretion capabilities of osteoblasts and fosters the mineralization process of the osteoid. Furthermore, it stimulates the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, thereby facilitating bone growth and maturation.
Antitumor effect
The primary anti-carcinogenic functionality of Fisetin is determined by its capacity to instigate apoptosis in cancer cells and halt their cell cycle. It additionally inhibits tumor invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis processes. When combined with specific anti-carcinogenic pharmaceuticals, it has been evidenced to amplify the effectiveness of these drugs against tumors more so whilst concurrently diminishing drug resistance.
Antioxidation
Viewed chemically, fisetin demonstrates the structural attributes of a flavonoid compound and exhibits notable antioxidant properties. The presence of free hydroxyl groups – specifically at positions C-3, C-3′, C-4′, and C-7, along with carbonyl groups at position C-4 within its molecular disposition endows fisetin with potent free radical neutralizing capacity.
Relative to the A ring, both B and C rings of fisetin exhibit superior free radical neutralization capabilities. The neighboring dihydroxy formation acts as an electron benefactor in the process of electron delocalization, consequently precluding Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and impeding the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins.
Anti-inflammatory effect
The mechanism by which fisetin exerts its anti-inflammatory effects mainly includes the following two aspects:
Fisetin effectively counteracts the augmentation of neutrophil and macrophage populations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid that is commonly induced by cigarette smoke exposure, hence significantly mitigating lung inflammation.
This beneficial impact of Fisetin can be attributed to its robust anti-inflammatory characteristics, notably through inhibiting NF-κB activation and dampening p38MMAPK phosphorylation.
Moreover, it contributes to the downregulation of mast cell activity as well as limits their interaction with activated T cells thereby further enhancing its therapeutic effects on reducing inflammation.
Fisetin demonstrates potent anti-inflammatory properties ascertained by modulating pathways including NF-κB. It further inhibits the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 and inflammatory mediators like cyclooxygenase 2, contributing to its protective role against inflammation-driven conditions such as nephritis, hepatitis, acute lung injury, retinal inflammation along with other afflictions in animal models.
This highlights Fisetin’s potential in mitigating stress-induced kidney damage and offering efficient control over inflammatory responses observed in various gastrointestinal disorders and acute otitis media.
Neuroprotection
Fisetin serves as a potent antioxidant, bolstering GSH (glutathione) levels and safeguarding mitochondrial efficiency under oxidative stress exposure. Its anti-inflammatory properties impact microglia positively while its inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activity further underscores its effectiveness. Studies showcase that Fisetin has a pivotal role in mitigating age-associated deterioration in brain functionality.
Other pharmacological effects
Beyond the aforementioned pharmacological properties, fisetin possesses an array of significant effects which are applicable to healthcare and therapeutics. These involve preventative measures against aging, myocardial injury protection, advancement in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease treatment as well as shielding skin from detrimental ultraviolet rays and inflammatory harm.
Furthermore, fisetin possesses neuroprotective characteristics that predominantly enhance memory functionality. It mitigates neurotoxic damage and restrains both the generation of β-amyloid and Tau protein phosphorylation among other things.
Consequently, this imparts a robust defense against Alzheimer’s disease and ischemic stroke incidents. Fisetin plays in integral role in conserving glucose equilibrium as it curtails gluconeogenesis within the liver while simultaneously regulating numerous critical enzymes in glucose metabolism. As such, fisetin is shown to have significant anti-diabetic properties.
Conclusion
Fisetin shows great potential for multiple health benefits, including its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. As fisetin research continues to expand, it may prove to be an important component in preventing a variety of chronic diseases and promoting overall health.
Dietary professionals endorse the incorporation of fruits such as strawberries and mangoes into one’s nutrition plan as they are rich in fisetin. This dietary component has been linked with memory enhancement, improved cognitive function, and promoting apoptosis in cancer cells. Additionally, incorporating a supplement of 50mg daily is recommended to broaden these potential health benefits further.
