Quercetin promotes osteogenic differentiation of senescent jaw bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

• Quercetin at 1 μmol/L significantly promotes proliferation of senescent jaw bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (JBMMSCs). • Quercetin reverses replicative senescence of JBMMSCs, as evidenced by reduced SA-β-gal staining and decreased expression of P16, P53, and P21. • Quercetin enhances osteogenic differentiation of senescent JBMMSCs, increasing alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium nodule formation, and expression of osteogenic markers. • The mechanism involves inhibition of the protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (Akt/mTOR) signaling pathway.