MINI REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Neuropharmacology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1621510
Research progress of quercetin on anti-anxiety and anti-depression
Provisionally accepted
- Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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Anxiety and depression represent two of the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide, with current pharmacotherapies often limited by adverse effects and treatment resistance. Consequently, research into natural products for mental health interventions has attracted growing scientific interest. Quercetin, a bioactive flavonoid ubiquitously present in plant-derived flowers, fruits, and dietary sources, exhibits diverse pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anxiolytic, and antidepressant activities. This review systematically summarizes the fundamental characteristics of quercetin, focusing on its core molecular mechanisms in alleviating anxiety-and depression-like behaviors, preclinical evidence from experimental models, and the current landscape of clinical investigations. By critically analyzing its therapeutic advantages, translational challenges, and emerging research priorities, this synthesis aims to offer a theoretical foundation for the development of quercetin-based formulations and their clinical implementation in mood disorder management.
Keywords: Quercetin, Anti-anxiety, Anti-depression, mechanism of action, Native compound
Received: 01 May 2025; Accepted: 22 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Teng and Song. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Hong Chun Song, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.