Quercetin increases brain and muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and exercise tolerance
Abstract
Quercetin is one of a broad group of natural polyphenolic flavonoid substances that are being investigated for their widespread health benefits. These benefits have generally been ascribed to its combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, but recent in vitro evidence suggests that improved mitochondrial biogenesis could play an important role. In addition, the in vivo effects of quercetin on mitochondrial biogenesis exercise tolerance are unknown. We examined the effects of 7 days of quercetin feedings in mice on markers of mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle and brain, and on endurance exercise tolerance. Mice were randomly assigned to one of the following three treatment groups: placebo, 12.5 mg/kg quercetin, or 25 mg/kg quercetin. Following 7 days of treatment, mice were killed, and soleus muscle and brain were analyzed for mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC-1alpha) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and cytochrome c. Additional mice underwent a treadmill performance run to fatigue or were placed in voluntary activity wheel cages, and their voluntary activity (distance, time, and peak speed) was recorded. Quercetin increased mRNA expression of PGC-1alpha and SIRT1 (P < 0.05), mtDNA (P < 0.05) and cytochrome c concentration (P < 0.05). These changes in markers of mitochondrial biogenesis were associated with an increase in both maximal endurance capacity (P < 0.05) and voluntary wheel-running activity (P < 0.05). These benefits of querectin on fitness without exercise training may have important implications for enhancement of athletic and military performance and may also extend to prevention and/or treatment of chronic diseases.
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Quercetin has a favourable effect on skeletal muscle and mitochondrial biogenesis and function via activation of the SIRT1-AMPK-PGC1α axis.
“Quercetin has widely been reported for its favourable effect on skeletal muscle and mitochondria biogenesis as well as function via the activation of the SIRT1-AMPK-PGC 1α axis (Davis et al., 2009).”
From Mitochondrial (Dys)function and Insulin Resistance: From Pathophysiological Molecular Mechanisms to the Impact of Diet (2019) · cites this paper as Davis et al., 2009
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- Authors
- Davis, J. M., Murphy, E. A., Carmichael, M. D., & Davis, B.
- Affiliations
- University of South Carolina (US)
- ORCID
- Murphy, E. Angela
- Venue
- American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 2009-04
- Volume
- 296
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- R1071-R1077
- ISSN
- 0363-6119 (ISSN-L)
- 1522-1490
- OpenAlex
- W2025150565
- Cited by
- 486
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 31 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 36 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 33
- FWCI
- 38.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
- Keywords
- quercetin, flavonoids, mitochondrial biogenesis, exercise tolerance, endurance capacity, PGC-1α, SIRT1, mitochondrial DNA, cytochrome c, skeletal muscle, brain, voluntary wheel running, athletic performance
- MeSH terms
- Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha, Animals, Brain, DNA, Mitochondrial, Gene Expression Regulation, Male, Mice, Inbred ICR, Mitochondria, Mitochondria, Muscle, Physical Endurance, Quercetin, RNA, Messenger, Time Factors, Transcription Factors, Trans-Activators, Exercise Tolerance, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Fatigue, Dietary Supplements, Sirtuins, Cytochromes c, Mice, Sirtuin 1
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