What is fisetin?
Fisetin is one of the most studied flavonoids. 1 Theoretically, fisetin is a flavonol molecule similar to the flavonols found in dark chocolate and cocoa. Trace amounts of fisetin can also be found in certain fruits and vegetables.
Based on existing research, the highest levels of fisetin are found in strawberries, followed by apples. The content of fisetin in strawberries is about five times that in apples, and is generally more than 30 times that in mangoes, kiwis, grapes, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and various nuts.
However, the fisetin content in these foods is still not comparable to the fisetin content in dietary supplements. In Japan, the estimated average daily intake of fisetin is 0.4 mg. As a dietary supplement, the recommended daily dose of fisetin is 100 mg.
Fisetin health benefits
Like other flavonoid sources such as quercetin, resveratrol, and grape seed extract, fisetin exerts a myriad of beneficial effects. The focus of this article will be fisetin's unique effects on brain health, cognition, and memory.
Fisetin optimizes brain health by:
1.Activates antioxidant mechanism to protect brain cells from damage.
2.Enhance glutathione content in brain cells to further protect the brain while optimizing body cleansing and strengthening cellular energy.
3.Supports the growth of new brain cells.
4.Stimulates and aids brain circuits and brain signaling pathways involved in long-term memory function.
Much of the research on fisetin on brain health has been conducted at the renowned Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, focusing on fisetin as a "nootropic" and "neurotrophic" factors" to study. The so-called "nootropic substances" refer to substances that can enhance memory and brain function. Several other natural compounds that exert this effect include Hericium erinaceus extract, PQQ and CoQ10, resveratrol, and curcumin.
What makes fisetin unique is its role as a neurotrophic factor?
This class of compounds supports the survival, differentiation and functional maintenance of brain cells. In other words, what's different about fisetin is that, in addition to helping brain cells function better, as a neurotrophic agent, fisetin also plays a role in optimizing what's called "brain plasticity."
Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to respond to developing new or restoring original brain circuits. Brain plasticity is important for normal brain functioning such as learning and memory. Therefore, by acting as a neurotrophic agent to optimize brain plasticity, fisetin can actually produce optimization of brain circuits and brain signaling pathways associated with long-term memory function.
Of all the flavonoids tested in animal models of age-related brain changes, only fisetin and a related trace flavonol proved to be superior.
