The Potential of Quercetin and Its Derivatives in the Treatment of Psoriasis: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Background Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, shows therapeutic potential but lacks comprehensive evidence synthesis. Objective To summarize pharmacological mechanisms, efficacy, and innovative formulations of quercetin and its derivatives (rutin, taxifolin) in psoriasis treatment. Methods A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library (inception to February 2026). Studies on quercetin, rutin, or taxifolin in psoriasis models or patients were included. Data were synthesized descriptively. Results Twenty-two studies were included. Quercetin exerts anti-psoriatic effects by inhibiting NF-κB and JAK/STAT pathways, activating Nrf2 antioxidant defense, regulating PI3K/AKT/Glut1 and Notch signaling to suppress keratinocyte proliferation, modulating AMPK-mediated immunometabolic reprogramming, and targeting TOP2A, AhR, and cell cycle regulators. Rutin acts via JAK2/STAT3 and Keap1/Nrf2 pathways. Taxifolin regulates T-cell differentiation through Notch1/JAK2/STAT3 and cPLA2/PPAR-γ pathways. Innovative formulations (nanoemulsions, liposomes) significantly enhance bioavailability, achieving up to 6-fold increased skin permeation and 56.7% reduction in epidermal thickness, with efficacy comparable or superior to conventional drugs and better safety profiles. Conclusion Quercetin and its derivatives exert multi-target therapeutic effects through coordinated regulation of inflammatory,…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Quercetin Influences Quorum Sensing in Food Borne Bacteria: In-Vitro and In-Silico Evidence
- Phenolic-protein interactions: insight from in-silico analyses – a review
- In Silico Discovery of Candidate Drugs against Covid-19
- Neuropharmacological Effects of Quercetin: A Literature-Based Review
- In vitro and in silico anti-dengue activity of compounds obtained from Psidium guajava through bioprospecting
- Effect of Quercetin Rich Onion Extracts on Bacterial Quorum Sensing
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.