Quercetin for managing type 2 diabetes and its complications, an insight into multitarget therapy

Biomed Pharmacother. 2022 Feb:146:112560. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112560. Epub 2021 Dec 22.

Abstract

Background: Quercetin, a bioflavonoid abundant in grapefruit, onion, berries, etc., has vast therapeutic potential, especially against Type 2 diabetes and its complications. Quercetin showed similar effects as that of metformin, (widely prescribed antidiabetic drug) in cell lines models (Sajan et al., 2010; Dhanya et al., 2017). In vivo findings also showcase it as a promising agent against diabetes and its pathophysiological complications.

Scope and approach: Quercetin can be produced on a large scale through a novel fermentation-based glycosylation strategy from cheap substrates and can be utilized as a dietary supplement. The review focuses on the mounting evidence pointing to Quercetin as a promising candidate for managing type 2 diabetes and its oxidative stress mediated pathophysiological complications.

Conclusion: Quercetin acts on multiple targets of diabetes and regulates key signalling pathways which improve the symptoms as well as the complications of Type 2 diabetes. However further studies are needed to improve the bioavailability and to establish a dosing regimen for Quercetin.

Keywords: Diabetes; Hyperglycemia; Oxidative stress; Quercetin; Reactive oxygen species.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / drug effects
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / pathology*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Quercetin / pharmacokinetics
  • Quercetin / pharmacology*
  • Quercetin / therapeutic use
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / drug effects

Substances

  • Glycation End Products, Advanced
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Quercetin
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Glucose