Mechanistic insights into the anti-depressant effect of quercetin: an integrated bibliometrics, bioinformatics, and animal experimentation
Abstract
Objectives Accumulating 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. Methods A 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. Results Bibliometric 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.…
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