Quercetin Exhibits Preferential Binding Interaction by Selectively Targeting HRAS1 I-Motif DNA-Forming Promoter Sequences.

I-Motif (iM) DNA structures represent among the most significant noncanonical nucleic acid configurations. iM-forming DNA sequences are found in an array of vital genomic locations and are particularly frequent in the promoter islands of various oncogenes. Thus, iM DNA is a crucial candidate for anticancer medicines; therefore, binding interactions between iM DNA and small molecular ligands, such as flavonoids, are critically important. Extensive sets of spectroscopic strategies and thermodynamic analysis were utilized in the present investigation to find out the favorable interaction of quercetin (Que), a dietary flavonoid that has various health-promoting characteristics, including anticancer properties, with noncanonical iM DNA structure. Spectroscopic studies and thermal analysis revealed that Que interacts preferentially with HRAS1 iM DNA compared with VEGF, BCL2 iM, and duplex DNA. Que, therefore, emerged as a suitable natural-product-oriented antagonist for targeting HRAS1 iM DNA. The innovative spectroscopic as well as mechanical features of Que and its specific affinity for HRAS1 iM may be useful for therapeutic applications and provide crucial insights for the design of compounds with remarkable medicinal properties.

Combinatorial metabolic engineering of Bacillus subtilis enables the efficient biosynthesis of isoquercitrin from quercetin.

BACKGROUND: Isoquercitrin (quercetin-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside) has exhibited promising therapeutic potentials as cardioprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and anti-viral agents. However, its structural complexity and limited natural abundance make both bulk chemical synthesis and extraction from medical plants difficult. Microbial biotransformation through heterologous expression of glycosyltransferases offers a safe and sustainable route for its production. Despite several attempts reported in microbial hosts, the current production levels of isoquercitrin still lag behind industrial standards. RESULTS: Herein, the heterologous expression of glycosyltransferase UGT78D2 gene in Bacillus subtilis 168 and reconstruction of UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc) synthesis pathway led to the synthesis of isoquercitrin from quercetin with titers of 0.37 g/L and 0.42 g/L, respectively. Subsequently, the quercetin catabolism blocked by disruption of a quercetin dioxygenase, three ring-cleavage dioxygenases, and seven oxidoreductases increased the isoquercitrin titer to 1.64 g/L. And the hydrolysis of isoquercitrin was eliminated by three ß-glucosidase genes disruption, thereby affording 3.58 g/L isoquercitrin. Furthermore, UDP-Glc pool boosted by pgi (encoding glucose-6-phosphate isomerase) disruption increased the isoquercitrin titer to 10.6 g/L with the yield on quercetin of 72% and to 35.6 g/L with the yield on quercetin of 77.2% in a 1.3-L fermentor. CONCLUSION: The engineered B. subtilis strain developed here holds great potential for initiating the sustainable and large-scale industrial production of isoquercitrin. The strategies proposed in this study provides a reference to improve the production of other flavonoid glycosides by engineered B. subtilis cell factories.

Quercetin improves epithelial regeneration from airway basal cells of COPD patients.

BACKGROUND: Airway basal cells (BC) from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) regenerate abnormal airway epithelium and this was associated with reduced expression of several genes involved in epithelial repair. Quercetin reduces airway epithelial remodeling and inflammation in COPD models, therefore we examined whether quercetin promotes normal epithelial regeneration from COPD BC by altering gene expression. METHODS: COPD BC treated with DMSO or 1 µM quercetin for three days were cultured at air/liquid interface (ALI) for up to 4 weeks. BC from healthy donors cultured at ALI were used as controls. Polarization of cells was determined at 8 days of ALI. The cell types and IL-8 expression in differentiated cell cultures were quantified by flow cytometry and ELISA respectively. Microarray analysis was conducted on DMSO or 1 µM quercetin-treated COPD BC for 3 days to identify differentially regulated genes (DEG). Bronchial brushings obtained from COPD patients with similar age and disease status treated with either placebo (4 subjects) or 2000 mg/day quercetin (7 subjects) for 6 months were used to confirm the effects of quercetin on gene expression. RESULTS: Compared to placebo-, quercetin-treated COPD BC showed significantly increased transepithelial resistance, more ciliated cells, fewer goblet cells, and lower IL-8. Quercetin upregulated genes associated with tissue and epithelial development and differentiation in COPD BC. COPD patients treated with quercetin, but not placebo showed increased expression of two developmental genes HOXB2 and ELF3, which were also increased in quercetin-treated COPD BC with FDR < 0.001. Active smokers showed increased mRNA expression of TGF-ß (0.067) and IL-8 (22.0), which was reduced by 3.6 and 4.14 fold respectively after quercetin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that quercetin may improve airway epithelial regeneration by increasing the expression of genes involved in epithelial development/differentiation in COPD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on 6-18-2019. The study number is NCT03989271.

Studies on α-amylase inhibition by acarbose and quercetin using fluorescence, circular dichroism, docking, and dynamics simulations.

This study looked at the effects of acarbose (ACA) and quercetin (QUE) on α-amylase activity, employing QUE and ACA to measure enzyme activity. The study observed that both drugs suppressed α-amylase activity, with greater inhibition reported at higher concentrations. The use of tryptophan residues as an intrinsic fluorescence probe permitted the observation of conformational changes in α-amylase, with CD measurements utilized to explore the secondary structure in the presence of QUE and ACA. Docking studies revealed an effective interaction between α-amylase, quercetin and acarbose, with a higher binding energy. Finally, a trajectory analysis was done to establish the stability and volatility of these complexes. These findings have potential significance for the development of new α-amylase-related therapeutics.

Effects of quercetin on gentamicin-induced experimental testicular injury in rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of gentamicin (GEN) on the testis and whether quercetin (QUE) has any protective effect. Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into equal four groups: control (0.9% saline solution), GEN (80 mg∕kg GEN), QUE (50 mg∕kg QUE) and GEN+QUE (80 mg∕kg GEN + 50 mg∕kg QUE). Histopathological (HP) evaluation of testis was performed, epididymal sperm parameters were analyzed and oxidative status was evaluated. The use of QUE improved the HP findings, such as decrease in the germinal epithelial thickness in the testicular tissue of the GEN group, decrease in the Johnsen's tubular biopsy score (JTBS), increase in the rate of immature cell shedding tubules, and the apoptotic index (AI). In the GEN group, sperm count, and abnormal morphology increased compared to the control group; the viability and motility decreased according to the sperm analysis results. In the GEN+QUE group, QUE was found to improve sperm viability and morphology. In the GEN group, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased while superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels decreased. Compared with the GEN+QUE group, it was found that the tissue MDA level decreased, while the levels of SOD, CAT and GPx increased. The results demonstrate that GEN impairs testicular structure and function, and QUE treatment can prevent this adverse effect.

Ultrasound-mediated host-guest self-assembly between different dietary fatty acids and sodium caseinate and their complexes improving the water dispersibility, stability, and bioaccessibility of quercetin.

Quercetin (QUE) sufferred from poor processing adaptability and absorbability, hindering its application as a dietary supplement in the food industry. In this study, fatty acids (FAs)-sodium caseinate (NaCas) ligand complexes carriers were fabricated to improve the aqueous dispersibility, storage/thermal stability, and bioaccessibility of QUE using an ultrasound method. The results indicated that all six selected common dietary FAs formed stable hydrophilic complexes with NaCas and the FAs-NaCas complexes achieved an encapsulation efficiency greater than 90 % for QUE. Furthermore, the introduction of FAs enhanced the binding affinity between NaCas and QUE, but did not change the binding mode (static bursting) and types of intermolecular forces (mainly hydrogen bonding). In addition, a distinct improvement was discovered in the storage stability (>2.37-fold), thermal processing stability (>32.54 %), and bioaccessibility (>2.37-fold) of QUE. Therefore, the FAs-NaCas ligand complexes could effectively protect QUE to minimize degradation as fat-soluble polyphenol delivery vehicles.

Fabrication and characterization of shellac nanofibers with colon-targeted delivery of quercetin and its anticancer activity.

In this study, the feasibility of shellac nanofibers as carrier system for colonic delivery of quercetin was evaluated. Firstly, the nanofibers without and with different amounts (2.5 %, 5.0 %, and 7.5 %) of quercetin were fabricated using pure shellac as a carrier by electrospinning. The morphology of nanofibers was bead-shape confirmed by SEM. FTIR, XRD, and DSC analysis showed that quercetin was encapsulated into shellac nanofibers, forming an amorphous complex. The molecular docking simulation indicated quercetin bound well to shellac through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. These nanofibers had higher thermal stability than pure quercetin, and their surface wettability exhibited a pH-responsive behavior. The loading capacity of quercetin varied from 2.25 % to 6.84 % with the increased amount of quercetin, and it affected the stability of nanofibers in food simulants by measuring the release profiles of quercetin. The shellac nanofibers had high gastrointestinal stability, with a minimum quercetin release of 16.87 % in simulated digestive fluids, while the remaining quercetin was delivered to the colon and was released gradually. Moreover, the nanofibers exerted enhanced anticancer activity against HCT-116 cells by arresting cell cycle in G0/G1 phase and inducing cell apoptosis. Overall, shellac nanofibers are promising materials for colon-targeted delivery of active compounds.

Ethanol-Induced Hepatic Ferroptosis Is Mediated by PERK-Dependent MAMs Formation: Preventive Role of Quercetin.

SCOPE: Iron deposition is frequently observed in alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which indicates a potential role of ferroptosis in its development. This study aims to explore the effects of quercetin on ferroptosis in ALD and elucidates the underlying mechanism involving the formation of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) mediated by protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK). METHODS AND RESULTS: C57BL/6J mice are fed either a regular or an ethanol-containing liquid diet (with 28% energy form ethanol) with or without quercetin supplementation (100 mg kg-1 BW) for 12 weeks. Ethanol feeding or treatment induced ferroptosis in mice and AML12 cells, which is associated with increased MAMs formation and PERK expression within MAMs. Quercetin attenuates these changes and protects against ethanol-induced liver injury. The antiferroptotic effect of quercetin is abolished by ferroptosis inducers, but mimicked by ferroptosis inhibitors and PERK knockdown. The study demonstrates that PERK structure, rather than its kinase activity (transfected with the K618A site mutation that inhibits kinase activity-ΔK plasmid or protein C terminal knockout-ΔC plasmid of PERK), mediates the enhanced MAMs formation and ferroptosis during the ethanol exposure. CONCLUSION: Quercetin ameliorates ethanol-induced liver injury by inhibiting ferroptosis via modulating PERK-dependent MAMs formation.

Accumulation of the bitter substance quercetin mediated by the overexpression of a novel seed-specific gene FtRDE2 in Tartary buckwheat.

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is frequently employed as a resource to develop health foods, owing to its abundant flavonoids such as rutin. However, the consumption of Tartary buckwheat (TB) is limited in food products due to the strong bitterness induced by the hydrolysis of rutin into quercetin. This transformation is facilitated by the degrading enzyme (RDE). While multiple RDE isoenzymes exist in TB, the superior coding gene of FtRDEs has not been fully explored, which hinders the breeding of TB varieties with minimal bitterness. Here, we found that FtRDE2 is the most abundant enzyme in RDE crude extracts, and its corresponding gene is specifically expressed in TB seeds. Results showed that FtRDE2 has strong rutin hydrolysis activity. Overexpression of FtRDE2 not only significantly promoted rutin hydrolysis and quercetin accumulation but also dramatically upregulated genes involved in the early phase of flavonoid synthesis (FtPAL1、FtC4H1、Ft4CL1, FtCHI1) and anthocyanin metabolism (FtDFR1). These findings elucidate the role of FtRDE2, emphasizing it as an endogenous factor contributing to the bitterness in TB and its involvement in the metabolic regulatory network. Moreover, correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between the catalytic activity of RDE extracts and the expression level of FtRDE2 during seed germination. In summary, our results suggest that FtRDE2 can serve as a promising candidate for the molecular breeding of a TB variety with minimal bitterness.

SlBEL11 regulates flavonoid biosynthesis, thus fine-tuning auxin efflux to prevent premature fruit drop in tomato.

Auxin regulates flower and fruit abscission, but how developmental signals mediate auxin transport in abscission remains unclear. Here, we reveal the role of the transcription factor BEL1-LIKE HOMEODOMAIN11 (SlBEL11) in regulating auxin transport during abscission in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). SlBEL11 is highly expressed in the fruit abscission zone, and its expression increases during fruit development. Knockdown of SlBEL11 expression by RNA interference (RNAi) caused premature fruit drop at the breaker (Br) and 3 d post-breaker (Br+3) stages of fruit development. Transcriptome and metabolome analysis of SlBEL11-RNAi lines revealed impaired flavonoid biosynthesis and decreased levels of most flavonoids, especially quercetin, which functions as an auxin transport inhibitor. This suggested that SlBEL11 prevents premature fruit abscission by modulating auxin efflux from fruits, which is crucial for the formation of an auxin response gradient. Indeed, quercetin treatment suppressed premature fruit drop in SlBEL11-RNAi plants. DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) analysis indicated that SlBEL11 induced expression of the transcription factor gene SlMYB111 by directly binding to its promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that S. lycopersicum MYELOBLASTOSIS VIRAL ONCOGENE HOMOLOG111 (SlMYB111) induces the expression of the core flavonoid biosynthesis genes SlCHS1, SlCHI, SlF3H, and SlFLS by directly binding to their promoters. Our findings suggest that the SlBEL11-SlMYB111 module modulates flavonoid biosynthesis to fine-tune auxin efflux from fruits and thus maintain an auxin response gradient in the pedicel, thereby preventing premature fruit drop.

Quercetin Improves Barrier Properties in Porcine Small Intestine but Not in Peyer's Patches.

Peyer's patches (PPs) are part of the gut-associated lymphatic tissue (GALT) and represent the first line of the intestinal immunological defense. They consist of follicles with lymphocytes and an overlying subepithelial dome with dendritic cells and macrophages, and they are covered by the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE). A sealed paracellular pathway in the FAE is crucial for the controlled uptake of luminal antigens. Quercetin is the most abundant plant flavonoid and has a barrier-strengthening effect on tight junctions (TJs), a protein complex that regulates the paracellular pathway. In this study, we aimed to analyze the effect of quercetin on porcine PPs and the surrounding villus epithelium (VE). We incubated both tissue types for 4 h in Ussing chambers, recorded the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), and measured the unidirectional tracer flux of [3H]-mannitol. Subsequently, we analyzed the expression, protein amount, and localization of three TJ proteins, claudin 1, claudin 2, and claudin 4. In the PPs, we could not detect an effect of quercetin after 4 h, neither on TEER nor on the [3H]-mannitol flux. In the VE, quercetin led to a higher TEER value, while the [3H]-mannitol flux was unchanged. The pore-forming claudin 2 was decreased while the barrier-forming claudin 4 was increased and the expression was upregulated. Claudin 1 was unchanged and all claudins could be located in the paracellular membrane by immunofluorescence microscopy. Our study shows the barrier-strengthening effect of quercetin in porcine VE by claudin 4 upregulation and a claudin 2 decrease. Moreover, it underlines the different barrier properties of PPs compared to the VE.

Quercetin protects against hyperglycemia-induced retinopathy in Sprague Dawley rats by regulating the gut-retina axis and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 pathway.

Hyperglycemia-related retinopathy is a disease with a high blindness rate. Recent reports indicate that many flavonol compounds have the potential to prevent the occurrence of disease in the retina by regulating the gut-retina axis. Here, we hypothesized that quercetin could alleviate the symptoms of retinopathy. To clarify the mechanism, Sprague Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet containing quercetin for 12 weeks and injected with streptozotocin in the ninth week. Additionally, neomycin and ampicillin were used to establish a pseudo-sterile rat model. Afterward, changes in the retina were investigated by using electroretinogram and optical coherence tomography. Blood and tissue samples were collected and biochemical components were analyzed. The extent of intestinal injury was determined via hematoxylin-eosin staining. Microbial community structure was analyzed by using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Finally, the expression of genes was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that quercetin reduced the decline in electroretinography amplitude and outer nuclear layer thickness, increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, decreased the contents of proinflammatory factors and blood glucose, enhanced the concentration of insulin, and inhibited intestinal dysbiosis and improved gut morphology. Importantly, the underexpression of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 in the retina was reversed by quercetin. However, trend changes were no longer significant in most of the indicators after antibiotic treatment. In summary, quercetin has therapeutic effects on retinopathy by regulating the gut-retina axis and nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 pathway, and the presence of gut microbiota helps quercetin exert its effects on the retina.

Quercetin stimulates trophoblast fusion via the mitochondrial function.

The fusion of mononuclear trophoblasts into multinucleate syncytiotrophoblasts is the critical event in the process of syncytialization, and its dysregulation can lead to pregnancy complications, notably hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Oxidative stress may disrupt trophoblast syncytialization in HDP. Specifically, placentas with HDP exhibit impaired mitochondria, giving rise to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent oxidative stress. Quercetin, a bioflavonoid known for its antioxidant and anti-aging properties, has the potential to mitigate oxidative stress during trophoblast syncytialization. However, the precise mechanism underlying the action of quercetin in these processes remains to be elucidated. To explore the impact of quercetin on syncytialization, mitochondrial function, and ROS generation, cyclic AMP-stimulated BeWo cells were treated with quercetin. The expression of markers associated with cell fusion, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress was determined using qPCR and western blotting. Additionally, morphological syncytialization and mitophagy (mitochondrial degradation) were assessed by immunofluorescence analysis. Our results revealed that quercetin increased the expression of syncytialization markers and promoted cell fusion. Furthermore, this compound also upregulated markers associated with mitophagy and mitochondrial fusion, which are corroborated by visual evidence of mitophagy through the fluorescence microscope. Cell fusion naturally stimulated ROS generation, which was attenuated by quercetin. Quercetin downregulated the expression of NRF2 and HO-1 during syncytialization, while increasing the expression of sirtuin1/3/6, which are known to play essential roles in antioxidant responses. In conclusion, quercetin effectively regulates mitochondrial function through its antioxidant properties and the suppression of ROS generation, ultimately promoting trophoblast fusion, suggesting that the flavonoid has the potential to ameliorate pregnancy-related disorder stemming from placental dysplasia.

Biochemical and transcriptomic evaluation of a 3D lung organoid platform for pre-clinical testing of active substances targeting senescence.

Chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis are incurable. Epithelial senescence, a state of dysfunctional cell cycle arrest, contributes to the progression of such diseases. Therefore, lung epithelial cells are a valuable target for therapeutic intervention. Here, we present a 3D airway lung organoid platform for the preclinical testing of active substances with regard to senescence, toxicity, and inflammation under standardized conditions in a 96 well format. Senescence was induced with doxorubicin and measured by activity of senescence associated galactosidase. Pharmaceutical compounds such as quercetin antagonized doxorubicin-induced senescence without compromising organoid integrity. Using single cell sequencing, we identified a subset of cells expressing senescence markers which was decreased by quercetin. Doxorubicin induced the expression of detoxification factors specifically in goblet cells independent of quercetin. In conclusion, our platform enables for the analysis of senescence-related processes and will allow the pre-selection of a wide range of compounds (e.g. natural products) in preclinical studies, thus reducing the need for animal testing.

A major endogenous glycoside hydrolase mediating quercetin uptake in Bombyx mori.

Quercetin is a common plant flavonoid which is involved in herbivore-plant interactions. Mulberry silkworms (domestic silkworm, Bombyx mori, and wild silkworm, Bombyx mandarina) take up quercetin from mulberry leaves and accumulate the metabolites in the cocoon, thereby improving its protective properties. Here we identified a glycoside hydrolase, named glycoside hydrolase family 1 group G 5 (GH1G5), which is expressed in the midgut and is involved in quercetin metabolism in the domestic silkworm. Our results suggest that this enzyme mediates quercetin uptake by deglycosylating the three primary quercetin glycosides present in mulberry leaf: rutin, quercetin-3-O-malonylglucoside, and quercetin-3-O-glucoside. Despite being located in an unstable genomic region that has undergone frequent structural changes in the evolution of Lepidoptera, GH1G5 has retained its hydrolytic activity, suggesting quercetin uptake has adaptive significance for mulberry silkworms. GH1G5 is also important in breeding: defective mutations which result in discoloration of the cocoon and increased silk yield are homozygously conserved in 27 of the 32 Japanese white-cocoon domestic silkworm strains and 12 of the 30 Chinese ones we investigated.

Exosomes Derived from Quercetin-Treated Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibit the Progression of Osteoarthritis Through Delivering miR-124-3p to Chondrocytes.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease characterized by the progressive loss of cartilage and failure of the diarrheal joint. Quercetin has been reported to attenuate the development of OA. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived exosomes are involved in OA progression. However, the role of BMSC-derived exosomes in quercetin-mediated progression of OA remains unclear. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were used to assess protein and mRNA levels, respectively. CCK8 assay was performed to assess cell viability, and cell apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry. A dual-luciferase assay was performed to assess the relationship between miR-124-3p and TRAF6 expression. Furthermore, in vivo experiments were performed to test the function of exosomes derived from Quercetin-treated BMSCs in OA patients. IL-1ß significantly inhibited the viability of chondrocytes, whereas the conditioned medium of Quercetin-treated BMSCs (BMSCsQUE-CM) reversed this phenomenon through exosomes. IL-1ß notably upregulated MMP13 and ADAMT5 and reduced the expression of COL2A1 in chondrocytes, which were rescued by BMSCsQUE-CM. The effects of BMSCsQUE-CM on these three proteins were reversed in the absence of exosomes. Exosomes can be transferred from BMSCs to chondrocytes, and exosomes derived from Quercetin-treated BMSCs (BMSCsQue-Exo) can reverse the apoptotic effects of IL-1ß on chondrocytes. The level of miR-124-3p in BMSCs was significantly upregulated by quercetin, and miR-124-3p was enriched in BMSCsQue-Exo. TRAF6 was identified as a direct target of miR-124-3p, and BMSCsQue-Exo abolished the IL-1ß-induced activation of MAPK/p38 and NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, BMSCsQue-Exo significantly attenuated OA progression in vivo. Exosomes derived from Quercetin-treated BMSCs inhibited OA progression through the upregulation of miR-124-3p.

Roles of Cyt-c/Caspase-9/Caspase-3/Bax/Bcl-2 pathway in Cd-induced testicular injury in rats and the protective effect of quercetin.

Cadmium (Cd) exposure causes oxidative damage to mitochondria, which would adversely affect rat testicular tissue. Quercetin (Que) is a natural antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. However, the mechanism by which Que inhibits Cd-induced apoptosis of testicular cells remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway (Cyt-c/Caspase-9/Caspase-3/Bax/Bcl-2 pathway) in inhibiting Cd-induced apoptosis of testicular cells by Que. We used SD rats to simulate Cd chloride exposure by treating all sides of the rats with CdCl2 and/or Que. The levels of GSH and MDA in rat testis were detected using reagent kits. The effects of CdCl2 and/or Que on tissue damage, apoptosis, and gene and protein expression of the Cyt-c/Caspase-9/Caspase-3/Bax/Bcl-2 pathway in rat testis were examined by HE, TUNEL, RNA extraction and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot (Wb). The results show that Cd significantly increased the contents of GSH and MDA in rat testis (P < 0.01); conversely, Que significantly reduced the contents of GSH and MDA (P < 0.01). Cd inflicted damage to testicular tissue, and Que addition significantly reduced the damage. Cd increased the number of apoptosis of testicle cells, and Que inhibited testicle-cell apoptosis. In addition, the results of reverse transcription PCR and Wb assays confirmed that, as expected, Cd increased the expression levels of Cyt-c, Caspase-9, Caspase-3, and Bax mRNAs as well as proteins. And at the same time decreased the expression of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 in the cells. Surprisingly, these effects were reversed when Que was added. Therefore, Que can play an antioxidant and anti-apoptotic role in reducing the testicular tissue damage caused by Cd exposure. This provides a conceptual basis for the later development and utilization of Que as well as the prevention and treatment of tissue damage caused by Cd exposure.

Multi-omics identification of a key glycosyl hydrolase gene FtGH1 involved in rutin hydrolysis in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum).

Rutin, a flavonoid rich in buckwheat, is important for human health and plant resistance to external stresses. The hydrolysis of rutin to quercetin underlies the bitter taste of Tartary buckwheat. In order to identify rutin hydrolysis genes, a 200 genotypes mini-core Tartary buckwheat germplasm resource was re-sequenced with 30-fold coverage depth. By combining the content of the intermediate metabolites of rutin metabolism with genome resequencing data, metabolite genome-wide association analyses (GWAS) eventually identified a glycosyl hydrolase gene FtGH1, which could hydrolyse rutin to quercetin. This function was validated both in Tartary buckwheat overexpression hairy roots and in vitro enzyme activity assays. Mutation of the two key active sites, which were determined by molecular docking and experimentally verified via overexpression in hairy roots and transient expression in tobacco leaves, exhibited abnormal subcellular localization, suggesting functional changes. Sequence analysis revealed that mutation of the FtGH1 promoter in accessions of two haplotypes might be necessary for enzymatic activity. Co-expression analysis and GWAS revealed that FtbHLH165 not only repressed FtGH1 expression, but also increased seed length. This work reveals a potential mechanism behind rutin metabolism, which should provide both theoretical support in the study of flavonoid metabolism and in the molecular breeding of Tartary buckwheat.

Effect of quercetin on granulosa cells development from hierarchical follicles in chicken.

1. The bioflavonoid quercetin is a biologically active component, but its functional regulation of granulosa cells (GCs) during chicken follicular development is little studied. To investigate the effect of quercetin on follicular development in laying hens, an in vitro study was conducted on granulosa cells from hierarchical follicles treated with quercetin.2. The effect of quercetin on cell activity, proliferation and apoptosis of granulosa cells was detected by CCK-8, EdU and apoptosis assays. The effect on progesterone secretion from granulosa cells was investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) mRNA and oestrogen receptors (ERs), as well as the expression of steroid acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) and 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD) mRNA during progesterone synthesis, were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). PCNA, StAR and CYP11A1 protein expression levels were detected using Western blotting (WB).3. The results showed that treatment with quercetin in granulosa cells significantly enhanced cell vitality and proliferation, reduced apoptosis and promoted the expression of gene and protein levels of PCNA. The levels of progesterone secretion increased significantly following quercetin treatment, as did the expression levels of StAR and CYP11A1 using the Western Blot (WB) method.4. The mRNA expression levels of ERα were significantly upregulated in the 100 ng/ml and 1000 ng/ml quercetin-treated groups, while there was no significant difference in expression levels of ERß mRNA.

Quercetin-mediated alteration in photosynthetic efficiency, sugar metabolism, elemental status, yield, and redox potential in two varieties of okra.

Quercetin is a bioactive natural compound with an antioxidative property that can potentially modify plant physiology. The current investigation aimed to gauge the effect of different concentrations of foliar spray of quercetin (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.0 mM) on several morphological and physio-biochemical performances of Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Moench.) plants under normal environmental conditions. The foliar spray on the plant leaves was applied 25 days after sowing (DAS) and continued up to 30 DAS once each day. The plants were sampled at 30 and 45 DAS to monitor several parameters. The foliar treatments of quercetin significantly upgraded all the studied parameters. The results direct that most of the traits such as growth, nutrient uptake, photosynthetic, and enzyme activities were promoted in a dose-dependent way. Quercetin application lowered the reactive oxygen species (ROS) buildup by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities. Microscopic investigations further revealed a significant enhancement in the stomatal aperture under quercetin application. Out of several doses tested, 1 mM of quercetin proved best and can be used for further investigations.