Pharmacological Activity of Flavonoid Quercetin and Its Therapeutic Potential in Testicular Injury

Abstract

Quercetin is a natural flavonoid widely found in natural fruits and vegetables. Recent studies have shown that quercetin mediates multiple beneficial effects in a variety of organ damage and diseases, and is considered a healthcare supplement with health-promoting potential. Male infertility is a major health concern, and testicular damage from multiple causes is an important etiology. Previous studies have shown that quercetin has a protective effect on reproductive function. This may be related to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic biological activities of quercetin. Therefore, this paper reviews the mechanisms by which quercetin exerts its pharmacological activity and its role in testicular damage induced by various etiologies. In addition, this paper compiles the application of quercetin in clinical trials, demonstrating its practical effects in regulating blood pressure and inhibiting cellular senescence in human patients. However, more in-depth experimental studies and clinical trials are needed to confirm the true value of quercetin for the prevention and protection against testicular injury.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-reprotoxic effects of kaempferol and vitamin E on lead acetate-induced testicular toxicity in male rats

“…Importantly, the effects of kaempferol on the reproductive system have not yet been fully reported. Kaempferol, like other flavonoids that affect LH-and FSH-secreting gonadotroph cells by incrementing their secretory granules ( Zhang et al , 2023 ), which results from the ability of kaempferol to upregulate hypophyseal GnRHr , FSHβ , and LHβ genes due to kaempferol’s antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects ( Liu et al , 2022 ). In addition, kaempferol has the ability to upregulate the testicular receptor expression of LH and FSH due to its powerful antioxidant properties that protect Leydig and Sertoli cells from Pb oxidative damage ( Lee et al , 2023 ), which promotes testicular steroidogenic enzyme expression which enhanced testosterone biosynthesis, as well as improvement the count, and viability of sperm ( Kluska et al , 2022 , Liu et al , 2022 ).…”

Dietary plant flavonoid supplementation for poultry as a potent scavenger of hydroxyl radicals and antioxidants: a review

“…Quercetin is a flavonoid that reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury by blocking the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Numerous cell types, such as macrophages and endothelial cells, produce nitric oxide (Abou Baker, 2022;Zhang et al, 2023).…”

“…A higher concentration of nitric oxide produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase in macrophages can cause oxidative damage, even though the early release of nitric oxide through the activity of constitutive nitric oxide synthase is important for maintaining the dilation of blood vessels (Zhang et al, 2023). Under these conditions, activated macrophages produce a significant amount of superoxide anion and nitric oxide simultaneously.…”

“…Peroxynitrite is primarily responsible for nitric oxide injury because it can directly oxidize LDLs and cause irreparable damage to the cell membrane (Sharifi-Rad et al, 2020). Free radicals are scavenged when flavonoids are utilized as antioxidants; as a result, they are unable to react with nitric oxide and cause as much harm (Zhang et al, 2023). Interestingly, nitric oxide can be thought of as a radical in and of itself.…”

Quercetin Alleviates Liver Fibrosis via Neutrophil Infiltration Mediated by Glycolysis of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells

“…Quercetin, a naturally occurring bioactive avonoid abundant in numerous plants and fruits 13 . In preclinical trials against a variety of diseases, QE has shown multiple pharmacological activities related to anti-in ammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective pathways [14][15][16] . Recent studies have shown that QE has potent anti-brotic properties, especially in the lung and kidney [17][18][19] .…”