Natural senolytic activity of Rhodiola rosea extract alleviates age-associated phenotypes via paraptosis

The accumulation of senescent cells drives age-related diseases, and their removal (senolysis) has been reported to ameliorate pathological aging phenotypes. Here, we identified Rhodiola rosea extract (Rosea) as a senolytic agent through screening of edible natural products. In mice, Rosea eliminated irradiation-induced senescent cells and reduced the burden of senescent cells in adipose tissue during obesity, as well as in adipose tissue, skin, and skeletal muscle during aging. These effects were accompanied by improvements in metabolic abnormalities, physical function, skin abnormalities, and behavioral impairments. We further identified oligomers of epigallocatechin (EGC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), specifically EGC-EGCG and EGCG-EGCG, as the senolytic components. EGC-EGCG targeted vulnerabilities in calcium dynamics between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in senescent cells, thereby inducing paraptosis-like cell death. These findings suggest that Rosea, containing EGC-EGCG and EGCG-EGCG, represents a natural senolytic candidate capable of delaying, mitigating, or preventing the progression of age-related pathologies.