Effect of Quercetin Treatment on Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Exercise-Induced AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activation in Rat Skeletal Muscle

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic quercetin treatment on mitochondrial biogenesis, endurance exercise performance and activation levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in rat skeletal muscle. Rats were assigned to a control or quercetin group and were fed for 7 days. Rats treated with quercetin showed no changes in the protein levels of citrate synthase or cytochrome C oxidase IV or those of sirtuin 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α or phosphorylated AMPK. After endurance swimming exercise, quercetin-treated rats demonstrated no differences in blood and muscle lactate levels or glycogen utilization speed compared to control rats. These results indicate that quercetin treatment does not stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle and does not influence metabolism in a way that might enhance endurance exercise capacity. On the other hand, the AMPK phosphorylation level immediately after exercise was significantly lower in quercetin-treated muscles, suggesting that quercetin treatment might provide a disadvantage to muscle adaptation when administered with exercise training. The molecular results of this study indicate that quercetin treatment may not be advantageous for improving endurance exercise performance, at least after high-dose and short-term therapy.

Therapeutic Approaches to Treat Mitochondrial Diseases: “One-Size-Fits-All” and “Precision Medicine” Strategies

“…Quercetin is a potent antioxidant flavonoid, more specifically a flavonol, with a reported ability to activate SIRT1 and PGC-1α and increases mtDNA and cytochrome c content in skeletal muscle and brain [ 126 , 127 ]. The use of quercetin for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders with mitochondrial involvement has been exploited in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s Disease [ 128 ] and Parkinson’s disease [ 129 ].…”

Supplementation with Vitis vinifera Jingzaojing Leaf and Shoot Extract Improves Exercise Endurance in Mice

“…Of course, an increase in mitochondrial content leads to maximal endurance performance. In contrast to these reports, Koshinaka et al [ 38 ] did not observe positive effects of quercetin on mitochondrial biogenesis in rat skeletal muscle, suggesting that quercetin treatment might provide a disadvantage to muscle adaptation when administered with exercise training. These studies collectively suggest that the beneficial effect of JLSE supplementation on exercise endurance may be due to the combined influence of quercetin along with several other compounds that are contained in JLSE.…”

Global Trends in Research of Mitochondrial Biogenesis over past 20 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis

“…Related drug research has been carried out with the herbal pairs of aconiti lateralis radix praeparata and zingiberis rhizome, resveratrol, berberine, salidroside, ginkgolic acid, quercetin, ginsenoside, etc. [ 106 – 112 ]. These findings indicate that the active ingredients in natural products may be potential agents for regulating the therapeutic effect of mitochondrial biogenesis, leading to a new research direction.…”