Browsing by Subject "quercetin"
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Item Quercetin and Related Analogs as Therapeutics to Promote Tissue Repair(MDPI, 2023-10-28) McKay, Tina B.; Emmitte, Kyle A.; German, Carrie; Karamichos, DimitriosQuercetin is a polyphenol of the flavonoid class of secondary metabolites that is widely distributed in the plant kingdom. Quercetin has been found to exhibit potent bioactivity in the areas of wound healing, neuroprotection, and anti-aging research. Naturally found in highly glycosylated forms, aglycone quercetin has low solubility in aqueous environments, which has heavily limited its clinical applications. To improve the stability and bioavailability of quercetin, efforts have been made to chemically modify quercetin and related flavonoids so as to improve aqueous solubility while retaining bioactivity. In this review, we provide an updated overview of the biological properties of quercetin and proposed mechanisms of actions in the context of wound healing and aging. We also provide a description of recent developments in synthetic approaches to improve the solubility and stability of quercetin and related analogs for therapeutic applications. Further research in these areas is expected to enable translational applications to improve ocular wound healing and tissue repair.Item Quercetin Decreases Corneal Haze In Vivo and Influences Gene Expression of TGF-Beta Mediators In Vitro(MDPI, 2022-07-07) McKay, Tina B.; Kivanany, Pourisika B.; Nicholas, Sarah E.; Nag, Okhil K.; Elliott, Michael H.; Petroll, W. Matthew; Karamichos, DimitriosWe have previously reported the flavonoid, quercetin, as a metabolic regulator and inhibitor of myofibroblast differentiation in vitro. Our current study evaluated the effects of topical application of quercetin on corneal scar development using two different animal models followed by RNA analysis in vitro. Wild-type C57BL/6J mice were anesthetized and the corneal epithelium and stroma were manually debrided, followed by quercetin (0.5, 1, 5, or 50 mM) or vehicle application. Corneal scarring was assessed for 3 weeks by slit lamp imaging and clinically scored. In a separate animal study, six New Zealand White rabbits underwent lamellar keratectomy surgery, followed by treatment with 5 mM quercetin or vehicle twice daily for three days. Stromal backscattering was assessed at week 3 by in vivo confocal microscopy. In mice, a single dose of 5 mM quercetin reduced corneal scar formation. In rabbits, stromal backscattering was substantially lower in two out of three animals in the quercetin-treated group. In vitro studies of human corneal fibroblasts showed that quercetin modulated select factors of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling pathway. These results provide evidence that quercetin may inhibit corneal scarring. Further studies in a larger cohort are required to validate the efficacy and safety of quercetin for clinical applications.