Multidimensional mechanisms of quercetin in diabetic kidney disease

Quercetin is a flavonoid compound that has demonstrated substantial potential in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, there is still a lack of systematic research on the exact mechanism of action of quercetin. This review discusses the druggability, molecular targets, and signaling pathways of quercetin in DKD treatment. We retrieved the latest research on the pharmacological effects and mechanisms related to quercetin from PubMed and Scopus as of June 2025 (2012-2025). Evidence suggests that quercetin has the potential to eliminate senescent cells in DKD. Network pharmacology was used to predict the targets and pathways of quercetin in targeting cellular senescence to treat DKD. Using on existing research, it was further confirmed that quercetin can effectively act on hub target and pathway. The mechanism of quercetin therapy in DKD was summarized from three dimensions: inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death. This review highlights the potential of quercetin for treating DKD by providing a biological basis for its mechanism of action and its use as a senolytic drug for this disease.