Table 1 Experimental studies that investigated the role of quercetin in ovarian cancer

Quercerin

80 mg/kg twice a week

–

In vivo

Induced apoptosis, induced ER stress, activated p-STAT3/ Bcl2 axis, induced protective authophagy,

[78]

34′7TMQ

–

Epithelial and fibroblast ovarian cancer cell lines

In vitro

Inhibited cell migration and invasion, inhibited expression of uPA and MMP-2

[90]

Quercetin

A dose range

Metastatic ovarian cancer cell line

In vitro

Decreased viability, induced apoptosis, decreased Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, increased caspase-3, caspase-p, Bid, Bad, Bax, cytochrome c

[79]

Quercetin

100 μM

Multi-drug resistant ovarian cancer cell line

In vitro

Increased ER stress, prolonged DNA repair, increased expression of p53, p21 and Bax, decreased expression of Bcl-2, induced radio-sensitization,

[81]

Quercetin

–

Human ovarian cancer xenograft model

In vivo

increased radiation-induced cell death, increased p53, increased ER stress

Quercetin

A dose range

Cisplatin sensitive and resistant cell lines

In vitro

Enhanced cisplatin cytotoxicity, increased ER stress, suppressed STAT-3 phosphorylation, decreased expression of Bcl-2,

[82]

40 mg/kg once a week

Human ovarian cancer xenograft model

In vivo

Suppressed STAY-3 phosphorylation, decreased Bcl-2 expression, induced apoptosis

Quercetin

A dose range

Epithelial ovarian cancer cell line and its CIS-resistant cell line

In vitro

Decreased expression of cyclin D1

[85]

Quercetin

A dose range

Epithelial ovarian cancer cell line

In vitro

Inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis, decreased survivin, induced cell cycle arrest

[86]

Nano-formulation of quercetin

A dose range

Ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma

In vitro

Inhibited growth, induced apoptosis, activated caspase-3 and caspase-9, decreased expression of MCL-1 and Bcl-2, increased expression of Bax

[80]

A dose range

Human ovarian cancer xenograft model

In vivo

Inhibited growth, induced apoptosis, inhibited angiogenesis

Quercetin

A dose range

Epithelial and drug resistant ovarian cancer cell lines

In vitro

Decreased ROS, increased anti-oxidant enzymes, inhibited apoptosis

[91]

Human ovarian cancer xenograft model

In vivo

Increased anti-oxidant enzymes expression, reduced ROS, decreased anti-neoplastic drug’s efficacy

Lipo-Que

–

CIS-resistant and CIS-sensitive ovarian cancer cell lines

In vitro

Inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis, induced cell cycle arrest

[83]

Human ovarian cancer xenograft model

In vivo

Inhibited tumor growth, inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis

Quercetin

2 mg / kg

Human ovarian cancer xenograft model

In vivo

Increased TRAIL sensitization, inhibited tumor growth, increased caspase-3, induced apoptosis

[88]

Quercetin

10 microM

Ovarian serous adenocarcinoma

In vitro

Increased TGF beta 1 activity

[89]

Quercetin

A dose range

Metastatic ovarian serous adenocarcinoma

In vitro

Inhibited PI kinase, decreased IP3 levels

[87]