Cellular senescence, defined as a stable state of cell cycle arrest, serves as a pivotal molecular mechanism driving organismal aging and age-related chronic diseases. Pancreatic β-cells and adipocytes are often among the earliest affected cell populations in senescence-associated metabolic disorders and play a central regulatory role in disease progression. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the senescence of pancreatic β-cells and adipocytes has been established as a key driver of disease initiation and progression. Due to prolonged exposure to stress conditions such as high metabolic load and insulin signaling defects, pancreatic β-cells exhibit increased susceptibility to senescence, which directly leads to reduced cell numbers and impaired insulin secretory function. In contrast, adipocyte senescence significantly promotes systemic insulin resistance by altering the adipokine secretion profile and inducing chronic inflammation. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) and their active components have demonstrated unique value in targeting cellular senescence. As senostatics and senolytics, TCM-derived ingredients can reduce or eliminate senescent pancreatic β-cells and adipocytes, thereby enhancing insulin secretion and improving insulin resistance, showing promising potential in delaying T2DM progression. Therefore, in-depth investigation of the mechanisms underlying TCM and their active components targeting of pancreatic β-cell or adipocyte senescence for T2DM treatment not only provides a novel perspective for understanding T2DM pathogenesis but also offers new therapeutic strategies for TCM-based prevention and management of geriatric T2DM.

cellular senescence  /  type 2 diabetes mellitus  /  pancreatic β-cells  /  adipocytes  /  traditional Chinese medicines and their active components