Oridonin acts as a novel senolytic by targeting glutathione S -transferases to activate the ROS-p38 signaling axis in senescent cells.

Most of the known senolytics are anti-cancer drugs or their derivative molecules. However, senolytics derived from the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are rarely reported. Here, we identified oridonin as a novel senolytic and further revealed that it might target a class of glutathione -transferases to activate ROS-p38 signaling and induce apoptosis in senescent cells.