Title:Quercetin in Attenuation of Ischemic/Reperfusion Injury: A Review
Volume: 14
Author(s): Milad Ashrafizadeh, Saeed Samarghandian, Kiavash Hushmandi, Amirhossein Zabolian, Md Shahinozzaman, Hossein Saleki, Hossein Esmaeili, Mehdi Raei, Maliheh Entezari, Ali Zarrabi*Masoud Najafi*
Affiliation:
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, 34956, Istanbul,Turkey
- Medical Technology Research Center, Institute of Health Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah,Iran
Keywords:
Quercetin, ischemic/reperfusion injury, inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy.
Abstract: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a serious pathologic event that occurs due to restriction
in blood supply to an organ, followed by hypoxia. This condition leads to enhanced levels of
pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α, and stimulation of oxidative stress via enhancing
reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Upon reperfusion, blood supply incz reases, but it
deteriorates condition and leads to the generation of ROS, cell membrane disruption and finally,
cell death. Plant derived-natural compounds are well-known due to their excellent antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory activities. Quercetin is a flavonoid exclusively found in different vegetables,
herbs, and fruits. This naturally occurring compound possesses different pharmacological activities
making it an appropriate option in disease therapy. Quercetin can also demonstrate therapeutic effects
via affecting molecular pathways such as NF-κB, PI3K/Akt and so on. In the present review,
we demonstrate that quercetin administration is beneficial in ameliorating I/R injury via reducing
ROS levels, inhibition of inflammation, and affecting molecular pathways such as TLR4/NF-κB,
MAPK and so on. Quercetin can improve cell membrane integrity via decreasing lipid peroxidation.
Apoptotic cell death is inhibited by quercetin via downregulation of Bax, and caspases, and
upregulation of Bcl-2. Quercetin is able to modulate autophagy (inhibition/induction) in decreasing
I/R injury. Nanoparticles have been applied for the delivery of quercetin, enhancing its bioavailability
and efficacy in the alleviation of I/R injury. Noteworthy, clinical trials have also confirmed the
capability of quercetin in reducing I/R injury.
