A Natural Shield Against Liver Damage: The Pharmacological Role of Quercetin
<p>The liver is an important organ that participates in the body’s chemical composition regulation, among which are detoxification, energy storage, and protein and lipid metabolism activities. These functions are important for metabolic control. Nevertheless, several other causes, including po...
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| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | Capítulo de libro |
| Lenguaje: | inglés |
| Publicado: |
IntechOpen
2026
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1237694 |
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| Sumario: | <p>The liver is an important organ that participates in the body’s chemical composition regulation, among which are detoxification, energy storage, and protein and lipid metabolism activities. These functions are important for metabolic control. Nevertheless, several other causes, including poisoning agents, drugs, and alcohol abuse, among others, might disrupt the structural and functional homeostasis of the liver, resulting in hepatotoxicity. The underlying pathophysiological pathways in this condition are oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis. Plant bioactive compounds have been considered as protective agents for the liver in recent years. Quercetin, a flavonoid polyphenol, is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects. Several experimental studies have shown that quercetin has the potential to lower oxidative stress by scavenging ROS. It was demonstrated to activate the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inhibit the NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response. Additionally, quercetin has been shown to alleviate fibrosis by suppressing the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway. Quercetin has also been determined to reduce apoptosis, support mitochondrial function, and restore liver enzyme levels to control levels. The poor bioavailability of quercetin limits its pharmacological potential. Therefore, new strategies such as nanoformulations, phospholipid complexes, and combination therapy are being researched to enhance the bioavailability and efficacy of this compound. The present results support the multipotent hepatoprotective potential of quercetin. Quercetin has demonstrated a favorable safety and toxicological profile in both preclinical and clinical settings. Daily doses of up to 1000–1200 mg have been shown to be well-tolerated in humans, with only mild and transient adverse effects reported. More long-term controlled human studies, however, would be needed to assess its clinical effects and side effects. In this chapter, available information on the protective potential of quercetin against liver injury is discussed based on the state of the art and as a basis for future research.</p> |
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| ISBN: | 978-1-80631-175-0 |
| DOI: | 10.5772/intechopen.1014273 |