Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2019, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (23): 3760-3766.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.1325

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Molecular mechanism of quercetin in the treatment of traumatic brain injury: its feasibility of clinical application

Huang Chao1, Huang Qinghua2, You Di3, Guo Wenlai1, Qu Wenrui1, Zhu Zhe1, Li Rui1   

  1. (1Department of Hand Surgery, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130022, Jilin Province, China; 2Specialist Clinic, Daqing Longnan Hospital, Daqing 163453, Heilongjiang Province, China; 3Department of Anesthesiology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China)
  • Received:2019-03-18 Online:2019-08-18 Published:2019-08-18
  • Contact: Li Rui, MD, Professor, Department of Hand Surgery, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130022, Jilin Province, China Corresponding author: Zhu Zhe, MD, Attending physician, Department of Hand Surgery, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130022, Jilin Province, China
  • About author:Huang Chao, Master candidate, Physician, Department of Hand Surgery, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130022, Jilin Province, China
  • Supported by:

    the Science and Technology Development Program of Jilin Province, No. 20180101118JC (to LR)

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury has pathological changes such as ischemia and hypoxia, which are similar to ischemic brain damage. Quercetin has been shown to hold significant effect in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE: To review the research status and prospects of quercetin in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.
METHODS: Databases of WanFang, CNKI and PubMed were searched for the articles published from 1900 to December 2018. The keywords were “quercetin and brain injury; quercetin and traumatic brain injury; quercetin and oxidation reaction; quercetin and neurons apoptosis; quercetin and inflammatory factor; traumatic brain injury and oxidation reaction; traumatic brain injury and apoptosis; traumatic brain injury and inflammatory factor; quercetin and biosafety” in Chinese and English, respectively. The reports and reviews on the role of quercetin in traumatic brain injury were included.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Quercetin can regulate antioxidant enzymes in oxidative stress to eliminate reactive oxygen species, improve the energy metabolism of mitochondria by promoting the biosynthesis of mitochondria themselves, and further protect mitochondria in neurons. Quercetin can also inhibit the activity and transport of phosphokinase C, antagonize the influx of sodium ions, thus inhibiting the release of histamine, prostaglandins and other inflammatory mediators, and alleviate inflammation. After treatment with quercetin, the autophagy and apoptosis of neurons can be weakened by activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and inhibiting ERK1/2 signaling pathway, and the neurological deficit and cognitive function can be improved. In animal safety evaluation test, the safety of quercetin can be considered to be high in a reasonable dose range. Quercetin has a significant therapeutic effect on traumatic brain injury, which is related to its scavenging oxygen free radicals, protecting mitochondria, antagonizing inflammatory reaction and reducing neuronal apoptosis. The potential molecular mechanism and clinical application of quercetin in the treatment of traumatic brain injury still need to be studied in depth.

Key words:  quercetin, traumatic brain injury, mitochondria, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species, inflammation reactions, neuroprotection, cell apoptosis

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