Abstract
Quercetin, a secondary metabolite and bioflavonoid, has been explored in recent times for its anti-diabetic potential owing to its wide pharmacological benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, cardiovascular protection, anti-lipidemic, and anti-arthritic properties. The presence of five hydroxyl groups contribute to its therapeutic properties by lowering blood glucose levels, increasing insulin production, improving pancreatic beta cells, and increasing glucose tolerance. Due to its antidiabetic efficacy in clinical studies, similar to other marketed drugs, studies have been conducted on the co-administration of quercetin with metformin, liraglutide, and resveratrol producing marked changes in serum glucose levels synergistically. Furthermore, they have the potential to combat adverse effects such as hypoglycaemia and hypolipidemia caused by other antidiabetic drugs. The mechanistic pathway by which quercetin causes reduced glucose levels is not clearly understood and, in this review, we discuss in detail the predictive pathways by which quercetin executes its anti-oxidant and anti-diabetic efficacy.