Quercetin: biological activity, therapeutic potential and prospects of the use

Quercetin is one of the flavonoids of a large group of phenolic compounds, which are secondary metabolites of plants and have a wide range of biological activity. A plant pigment, which is a powerful antioxidant flavonoid, found mainly in onions, grapes, berries, cherries, broccoli and citrus fruits. The flavonoid quercetin, due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial and other beneficial properties, is a promising biologically active substance and the subject of attention of many scientists around the world. In connection with the global problem of antimicrobial resistance, the scientific community is actively investigating the possibilities of using quercetin to create new antimicrobial drugs, especially against resistant strains of bacteria. Its combination with antibiotics can increase the effectiveness of standard antibacterial therapy. The use of quercetin in the fight against biofilms of microorganisms is also a promising area of research. The history of the study of quercetin began in 1814, and in 1854 the glycosidic nature of this substance was established. However, the world's interest in flavonoids, including quercetin, appeared only in 1936 after it was found that the sum of flavonoids of lemon peel has P-vitamin activity and strengthens the walls of blood vessels. Quercetin is synthesized in more than 400 plants and this is a large field of research for the scientific community, overcoming the low bioavailability of quercetin when administered orally and studying the passage of various forms of quercetin through the digestive tract, bioavailability – a task to be solved. Thus, quercetin is a promising bioactive compound with a wide range of medicinal properties. Its use in medicine can be the largest direction for combating statistical infectious, inflammatory and cancer diseases, as well as for improving general health and supporting the immune system. Research and development of quercetin-based drugs is a relevant area of modern science and human and veterinary medicine.