Therapeutic Effects of Quercetin on Renal Fibrosis and Injury

Quercetin is a natural flavonoid found in a variety of herbs and is the main active ingredient in several herbal formulas for treating kidney disease. Numerous studies have shown that quercetin can effectively attenuate acute kidney injury (AKI) by inhibiting renal inflammation, ferroptosis, and cell apoptosis. Quercetin ameliorates renal fibrosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) by attenuating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, inflammation, cellular senescence, and other mechanisms. Therefore, quercetin may be a potential drug for the treatment of kidney diseases. In this review, recent advances in the therapeutic effects on and the mechanisms of quercetin in AKI and CKD are discussed.