Anti-senescence effects of 4-methoxychalcone and 4-bromo-4'-methoxychalcone on human endothelial cells

Senolytics are drugs that specifically target senescent cells. Flavonoids such as quercetin and fisetin possess selective senolytic activities. This study aims to investigate if chalcones exhibit anti-senescence activities. Anti-senescence effect of 11 chalcone derivatives on the replicative senescence human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) and human fetal lung fibroblasts (IMR90) was evaluated. Compound 2 (4-methoxychalcone) and compound 4 (4-bromo-4'-methoxychalcone) demonstrated increased cytotoxicity in senescent HAEC compared to young HAEC, with significant differences on IC50 values. Their anti-senescence effects on HAEC exceeded fisetin. Higher selectivity of compound 4 toward HAEC over IMR90 could be attributed to 4-methoxy (4-OMe) substitution at ring A (R1). Chalcone derivatives have potentials as senolytics in mitigating replicative senescence, warranting further research and development on chalcones as anti-senescent agent.