Mechanistic insights into the anti-depressant effect of quercetin: an integrated bibliometrics, bioinformatics, and animal experimentation
ObjectivesAccumulating clinical evidence demonstrates the therapeutic potential of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in mitigating depressive disorders. This research focuses on quercetin, a principal bioactive constituent shared among five classical TCM antidepressant formulations, to systematical...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1612746/full |
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| author | Zhujin Song Zhujin Song Yuhua Wu Liping Luo Qingqing Hu Saiwei Wu Miaolian Wu Guoqing Zhang |
| author_facet | Zhujin Song Zhujin Song Yuhua Wu Liping Luo Qingqing Hu Saiwei Wu Miaolian Wu Guoqing Zhang |
| author_sort | Zhujin Song |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectivesAccumulating clinical evidence demonstrates the therapeutic potential of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in mitigating depressive disorders. This research focuses on quercetin, a principal bioactive constituent shared among five classical TCM antidepressant formulations, to systematically decode its multi-target mechanisms via an integrative framework combining neuroinflammatory modulation and synaptic plasticity regulation.MethodsA tripartite experimental design was implemented. Firstly, bibliometric analysis systematically screened antidepressant TCM prescriptions and their bioactive components. Secondly, network pharmacology delineated the therapeutic mechanisms of quercetin – a key phytochemical identified through prior analysis. Finally, we established a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression-like behavior model in mice for validation.ResultsBibliometric analysis showed that the clinical efficacy of 5 TCM antidepressant prescriptions were identified by evidence-based medicine. In these prescriptions, Radix Bupleuri, Rhizoma Cyperi, and Radix Glycyrrhizae were the most commonly used herbs, while Quercetin was identified as the shared bioactive nexus across these prescriptions. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that quercetin may be closely related to PI3K/AKT pathway in depression. And results of animal experimentation showed that quercetin could improve depression-like behaviors and restore neurotransmitters levels. Concurrently, quercetin may inhibit neuroinflammation and ameliorate synaptic ultrastructural by PI3K/AKT pathway.ConclusionThe present study elucidated the mechanism of quercetin, an active ingredient in TCM prescriptions, in the treatment of depression through data mining, network pharmacology prediction, and experimental validation. This integrated research method will provide a new perspective for the development of TCM. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d05acec20aae4a52ba8c0e75e82d4efe |
| institution | Matheson Library |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-d05acec20aae4a52ba8c0e75e82d4efe2025-07-16T04:12:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-07-011210.3389/fnut.2025.16127461612746Mechanistic insights into the anti-depressant effect of quercetin: an integrated bibliometrics, bioinformatics, and animal experimentationZhujin Song0Zhujin Song1Yuhua Wu2Liping Luo3Qingqing Hu4Saiwei Wu5Miaolian Wu6Guoqing Zhang7Department of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, ChinaCollege of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Nutrition, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaObjectivesAccumulating clinical evidence demonstrates the therapeutic potential of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in mitigating depressive disorders. This research focuses on quercetin, a principal bioactive constituent shared among five classical TCM antidepressant formulations, to systematically decode its multi-target mechanisms via an integrative framework combining neuroinflammatory modulation and synaptic plasticity regulation.MethodsA tripartite experimental design was implemented. Firstly, bibliometric analysis systematically screened antidepressant TCM prescriptions and their bioactive components. Secondly, network pharmacology delineated the therapeutic mechanisms of quercetin – a key phytochemical identified through prior analysis. Finally, we established a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression-like behavior model in mice for validation.ResultsBibliometric analysis showed that the clinical efficacy of 5 TCM antidepressant prescriptions were identified by evidence-based medicine. In these prescriptions, Radix Bupleuri, Rhizoma Cyperi, and Radix Glycyrrhizae were the most commonly used herbs, while Quercetin was identified as the shared bioactive nexus across these prescriptions. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that quercetin may be closely related to PI3K/AKT pathway in depression. And results of animal experimentation showed that quercetin could improve depression-like behaviors and restore neurotransmitters levels. Concurrently, quercetin may inhibit neuroinflammation and ameliorate synaptic ultrastructural by PI3K/AKT pathway.ConclusionThe present study elucidated the mechanism of quercetin, an active ingredient in TCM prescriptions, in the treatment of depression through data mining, network pharmacology prediction, and experimental validation. This integrated research method will provide a new perspective for the development of TCM.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1612746/fullquercetindepressionbibliometricsnetwork pharmacologyanimal experimentation |
| spellingShingle | Zhujin Song Zhujin Song Yuhua Wu Liping Luo Qingqing Hu Saiwei Wu Miaolian Wu Guoqing Zhang Mechanistic insights into the anti-depressant effect of quercetin: an integrated bibliometrics, bioinformatics, and animal experimentation Frontiers in Nutrition quercetin depression bibliometrics network pharmacology animal experimentation |
| title | Mechanistic insights into the anti-depressant effect of quercetin: an integrated bibliometrics, bioinformatics, and animal experimentation |
| title_full | Mechanistic insights into the anti-depressant effect of quercetin: an integrated bibliometrics, bioinformatics, and animal experimentation |
| title_fullStr | Mechanistic insights into the anti-depressant effect of quercetin: an integrated bibliometrics, bioinformatics, and animal experimentation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanistic insights into the anti-depressant effect of quercetin: an integrated bibliometrics, bioinformatics, and animal experimentation |
| title_short | Mechanistic insights into the anti-depressant effect of quercetin: an integrated bibliometrics, bioinformatics, and animal experimentation |
| title_sort | mechanistic insights into the anti depressant effect of quercetin an integrated bibliometrics bioinformatics and animal experimentation |
| topic | quercetin depression bibliometrics network pharmacology animal experimentation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1612746/full |
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