Biology Department, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, 5414 Brittany Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA.
Molecules. 2022 Apr 12;27(8):2494. doi: 10.3390/molecules27082494.
Quercetin, an essential plant flavonoid, possesses a variety of pharmacological activities. Extensive literature investigates its antimicrobial activity and possible mechanism of action. Quercetin has been shown to inhibit the growth of different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi and viruses. The mechanism of its antimicrobial action includes cell membrane damage, change of membrane permeability, inhibition of synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, reduction of expression of virulence factors, mitochondrial dysfunction, and preventing biofilm formation. Quercetin has also been shown to inhibit the growth of various drug-resistant microorganisms, thereby suggesting its use as a potent antimicrobial agent against drug-resistant strains. Furthermore, certain structural modifications of quercetin have sometimes been shown to enhance its antimicrobial activity compared to that of the parent molecule. In this review, we have summarized the antimicrobial activity of quercetin with a special focus on its mechanistic principle. Therefore, this review will provide further insights into the scientific understanding of quercetin's mechanism of action, and the implications for its use as a clinically relevant antimicrobial agent.
槲皮素是一种必需的植物类黄酮，具有多种药理学活性。大量文献研究了其抗菌活性及其可能的作用机制。槲皮素已被证明能抑制不同革兰氏阳性和革兰氏阴性细菌以及真菌和病毒的生长。其抗菌作用机制包括细胞膜损伤、膜通透性改变、核酸和蛋白质合成抑制、降低毒力因子表达、线粒体功能障碍和防止生物膜形成。槲皮素还被证明能抑制各种耐药微生物的生长，因此提示其可用作针对耐药菌株的有效抗菌剂。此外，槲皮素的某些结构修饰有时会增强其抗菌活性，使其优于母体分子。在本综述中，我们总结了槲皮素的抗菌活性，特别关注其作用机制。因此，本综述将为深入了解槲皮素的作用机制提供依据，并为其作为一种具有临床相关性的抗菌剂的应用提供启示。
