Scutellarein may reduce disc degeneration by helping damaged cell parts get cleared, lowering inflammation, cell death, and energy problems in disc core cells

Scutellarein treatment reduced inflammation and suppressed ferroptosis in human nucleus pulposus cells.

• Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is linked to oxidative stress, inflammation, and ferroptosis.
• Inhibition of mitophagy was achieved using cyclosporin A in an in vitro model of IVDD.
• Scutellarein treatment preserved the nucleus pulposus cell phenotype and restored mitochondrial function.
• In vivo studies showed that scutellarein reduced IVDD progression and altered the expression of key inflammatory and protective markers.
• The findings suggest that scutellarein may activate mitophagy, which could inhibit ferroptosis and improve outcomes in IVDD.

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