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Mechanistic insights into the anti-depressant effect of Quercetin: An integrated bibliometrics, bioinformatics, and animal experimentation
Effect of Quercetin on neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can treat depressive illnesses, according to an increasing amount of clinical data. This study by Song et al. (2025) centers on quercetin, a major bioactive compound found in five traditional TCM antidepressant formulations, aiming to uncover its multi-target therapeutic mechanisms. The approach integrates effects of quercetin on neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity. The study used a three-stage design. First, bibliometric methods identified effective TCM antidepressant formulas and their active compounds. Second, network pharmacology was used to explore quercetin’s therapeutic pathways. Lastly, the scientists used a mouse model of depression caused by chronic unexpected mild stress (CUMS) to test the findings. Evidence-based bibliometric analysis confirmed the efficacy of five TCM formulations for depression, with Radix Bupleuri, Rhizoma Cyperi, and Radix Glycyrrhizae as common components. Quercetin emerged as the shared bioactive compound among them. Network pharmacology suggested that quercetin’s antidepressant effects are linked to modulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In vivo experiments supported these findings, showing that quercetin alleviated depressive behaviors, restored neurotransmitter balance, reduced neuroinflammation, and improved synaptic structure in the CUMS mouse model. This study sheds light on the antidepressant mechanism of quercetin—found in various TCM remedies—through a combined approach of literature analysis, network-based prediction, and experimental validation. The integrative strategy offers promising insights into advancing TCM-based interventions in mental health. [NPID: Quercetin, depression, bibliometrics, network pharmacology, animal experimentation]
Year: 2025
