Industrial crop-derived senomorphic nanomaterials for fibrotic and degenerative diseases: Biomass valorization, mechanistic targeting, and translational product logic

Industrial crops and their processing residues emerge as underexploited sources of both senescence-modulating bioactive compounds and structure-forming biomaterials for fibrotic and degenerative disease applications. This narrative, mechanism-focused review critically evaluates chemically defined crop-derived bioactive classes, including phenolic alcohols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, catechins, stilbenes, tannins, curcuminoids and quinochalcone glycosides, together with plant-derived nanovesicles and structure-forming biomaterials such as lignin, nanocellulose, zein, pectin, gums and mucilage. These systems are viewed as integrated bioactive-carrier platforms rather than as conventional antioxidant supplements. The review examines evidence from cellular and disease-relevant animal models through four interconnected pathological axes: persistent cellular senescence, senescence-associated secretory phenotype amplification, oxidative–mitochondrial injury, and inflammaging-driven extracellular-matrix remodeling. Current findings indicate that most industrial crop-derived materials are best interpreted as senomorphic, immunomodulatory, redox-restorative, matrix-protective or microenvironment-remodeling platforms rather than confirmed senolytics. Hydroxytyrosol, rosmarinic acid, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), curcumin, hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), grape proanthocyanidins and pomegranate-derived phenolics have been associated with reduced SA-β-gal activity, p16 Ink4a /p21 signaling, NF-κB activation, inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and TGF-β/α-SMA-linked fibrogenic responses, while supporting Nrf2 signaling, SIRT1 activity, autophagy, mitochondrial quality control, collagen homeostasis, and reparative immune responses. Plant-derived nanovesicles and crop-based polymeric matrices further expand this field by contributing to immune or endothelial modulation, local tissue retention, controlled release, and product-format development for wounds, skin, cartilage, intervertebral disc, vascular, and fibrotic tissue contexts. Nevertheless, translation remains limited by insufficient active-dose normalization, incomplete crop-source standardization, weak batch reproducibility, limited pharmacokinetic and biodistribution data, and inadequate evidence for selective senescent-cell killing. Futuristically, there is a need for comparative testing of crude crop fractions, purified natural compounds, chemically synthesized identical compounds or synthetic analogs, free bioactive materials, blank carriers, and nanoformulated products under matched active-marker and molar-dose conditions. By integrating biomass valorization, mechanism-matched delivery, senescence-linked biomarkers, and manufacturable product attributes, industrial crop-derived nanomaterials may provide a credible platform for developing standardized senomorphic bioproducts for fibrotic and degenerative diseases.