 DHE reduces inflammation, senescence, and invertible discs. Recent research shows that a natural herbal compound reduces senescence and invertible disc degeneration and mice. Intervertible discs are shock-absorbing tissues located between our vertebral bones that allow the spine to bend. They degrade with age, leading to complaints such as back pain, degenerative disc disease, and herniated discs. Based on the hypothesis that an inflammatory response to cellular senescence is to blame for disc degeneration, researchers investigated whether the anti-inflammatory dehydrocoastus lactone, or DHE, could help. The researchers tested the effect of DHE on cells from the gel-like region at the center of the disc, which are known to contribute to local inflammation. While high doses prove cytotoxic, the researchers found that low doses were beneficial. DHE reduced the inflammatory response when the cells were exposed to an inflammatory cytokine. The researchers also tested DHE in a mouse model of spinal instability. DHE treated mice had better spinal structure and less inflammation. While DHE reduced inflammation, the team did not measure whether DHE affected senescence. Though more research will be needed to clarify this, the anti-inflammatory effect alone warrants consideration as a potential treatment for disc degradation.