Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40675379›Full record

ArticleVirologica Sinica2025

Quercetin inhibits herpes simplex virus 1 replication in corneal epithelium and suppresses keratitis progression.

Yubin Yu, Sihao Liu, Qinghua Liu, Xiuping Liu, Kaili Wu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Virologica Sinica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Yubin YuState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
Sihao LiuState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Qinghua LiuState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Xiuping LiuState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Kaili WuState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China. Electronic address: wukaili@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Quercetin is a natural compound with potent antiviral effects; however, its role in the treatment of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) remains underexplored. Here, we investigated the antiviral effects of quercetin against herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). By examining different phases of viral infection in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs), we found that 30 μmol/L quercetin inhibits HSV-1 replication primarily by disrupting viral attachment. RNA-sequencing and subsequent analyses revealed that the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) was upregulated by quercetin in a dose-dependent manner. Knocking down Nrf2 partially compromised quercetin's antiviral effect. Importantly, topical application of 100 μmol/L quercetin alleviated HSK severity in mice, reduced viral titers in tears, and inhibited VP16 expression in the cornea and trigeminal ganglia. These findings demonstrate the antiviral effect of quercetin against HSV-1 and provide a foundation for mechanistic studies to elucidate its therapeutic potential in HSK.

Indexed as

Epithelium, CornealHerpesvirus 1, HumanKeratitisQuercetinVirus ReplicationAnimalsAntiviral AgentsBinding SitesCell LineChlorocebus aethiopsDisease ProgressionFemaleGene Expression Regulation, ViralHerpes Simplex Virus Protein Vmw65HumansMiceAntiviral AgentsHerpes Simplex Virus Protein Vmw65NECTIN1 protein, humanNectinsNFE2L2 protein, humanNF-E2-Related Factor 2QuercetinAntiviralHerpes simplex keratitis (HSK)Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)Nrf2Quercetin

Identifiers

PMID40675379
PMCPMC12414389

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.