Encyclopedia · pathway modulator
Senolytics (dasatinib plus quercetin, fisetin)
Drugs that clear aged "zombie" cells restored the hair-making ability of old human papilla cells in a dish, and fisetin and quercetin grew hair in mice, with no human hair trial.
What it is
Dasatinib is a prescription leukaemia drug (a cousin of imatinib). Quercetin and fisetin are plant flavonoids sold as supplements. Dasatinib plus quercetin is the best-known senolytic pair.
How it works
Cultured human dermal papilla cells accumulate senescent cells that release inflammatory factors and lose their power to induce hair. Dasatinib plus quercetin removed them and raised the fraction of Wnt-active cells. Pappalardo 2025
What the studies show
- Treated human papilla cells regenerated new follicles better than untreated cells in a hair-reconstitution assay. This is lab work, and the university holds patents on papilla-cell hair neogenesis. Pappalardo 2025
- In mice with skin IGF-1 overexpression, senolytics reduced senescence markers and premature follicle ageing. A senolytic-patent holder is linked to the work. Wang 2025
- Topical quercetin woke resting mouse follicles and added blood vessels. Zhao 2023
- Fisetin raised the TERT enzyme in keratinocytes and moved mouse follicles from rest to growth. Kubo 2020
- No human hair trial was found.
How it's used in studies
Cell culture and topical mouse application only. The 2025 papilla-cell work uses senolytics to clean cell cultures before cell-based follicle regeneration, not as a scalp treatment.
Side effects and safety
Dasatinib is a cancer drug with serious side effects, prescription-only and not for cosmetic use. Fisetin and quercetin have no hair-safety data.
Bottom line
Interesting biology, nothing a person can use yet. Discuss with a doctor.
Fun facts
- Culling aged "zombie" cells let tired human hair-papilla cells build new follicles again in the lab. Pappalardo 2025
Studies 4
Pappalardo A et al. Restoration of hair follicle inductive properties by depletion of senescent cells. Aging Cell. 2025
Tested: dasatinib plus quercetin
Result: Treated papilla cells regenerated follicles better than untreated cells; university holds related patents.
Read the study ↗Wang Y et al. Targeting IGF1-induced cellular senescence to rejuvenate hair follicle aging. Aging Cell. 2025
Result: Senolytics reduced senescence markers and premature follicle ageing.
Read the study ↗Zhao Q et al. Single-cell profiling reveals a potent role of quercetin in promoting hair regeneration. Protein Cell. 2023
Result: Topical quercetin woke resting follicles and added blood vessels via HIF-1 alpha.
Read the study ↗Kubo C et al. Fisetin promotes hair growth by augmenting TERT expression. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020
Result: Fisetin raised TERT and moved mouse follicles from rest to growth.
Read the study ↗Related
- ImatinibA leukaemia drug that blocks the receptor pigment cells depend on can lighten or whiten hair reversibly, and oddly has also been listed among drugs that darkened gray hair.
- NAD+ precursors (NMN, nicotinamide riboside)The headline anti-ageing supplements have exactly one hair paper, in DHT-treated mice and cells, and no human hair trial.
- Urolithin AA gut-bacteria product of pomegranate and walnut compounds, sold as a mitochondria longevity supplement, protected human hair-papilla cells from oxidative damage in a brand-new 2026 company-linked paper, with no controlled human hair trial.
- LuteolinA plant flavonoid sold as a supplement slowed hair graying in a mouse model while two similar antioxidants did not, and there is no human data at all.