Quercetin is a well-known flavonoid naturally occurring in most of the plant foods and is often found in the human diet. It can act as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, and plays significant roles in the prevention of various chronic diseases. Recent findings revealed that quercetin could affect metabolic traits by regulating certain transcription factors or key proteins involved in cellular signal pathways and influencing the expression of functional genes along with related regulatory pathway(s), and that microRNAs (miRNAs) circulate in body fluids and are involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing and regulation of gene expression in various biological processes including development, proliferation, metabolism and inflammation. This article reviews the studies into the molecular pathways underlying the beneficial bioactivities of quercetin and its derivatives, and the modulatory effects of miRNAs by quercetin and its derivatives on miRNAs-mediated cellular processes. MicroRNAs as molecular targets of quercetin and its derivatives and as predictive biomarkers for early diagnosis of the outcome of quercetin-rich diets are highlighted. Current limitations and future directions of research on the impact and associated mechanism(s) of the synergies between quercetin species and other co-existing nutrients/bioactives on the expression of miRNAs as well as the roles of miRNAs in overall nutritional control are critically discussed.

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MicroRNA作为槲皮素及其衍生物的分子靶标的潜在生物学效应：临床前策略

槲皮素是一种众所周知的黄酮类化合物，天然存在于大多数植物食品中，并且经常在人类饮食中发现。它可以作为有效的抗氧化剂和消炎剂，在预防各种慢性疾病中发挥重要作用。最近的发现表明，槲皮素可以通过调节细胞信号通路中涉及的某些转录因子或关键蛋白并影响功能基因的表达以及相关的调节通路来影响代谢性状。在各种生物学过程（包括发育，增殖，代谢和炎症）中参与转录后基因沉默和基因表达调控。本文概述了槲皮素及其衍生物的有益生物活性的分子途径研究，以及槲皮素及其衍生物对miRNA的调节作用对miRNA介导的细胞过程的调节作用。MicroRNAs是槲皮素及其衍生物的分子靶标，并且是早期诊断富含槲皮素的饮食结果的预测生物标志物。批判性地讨论了槲皮素物种与其他共存的营养素/生物活性物质之间的协同作用对miRNA表达的影响及其相关机制的当前局限性和未来的研究方向，以及miRNA在总体营养控制中的作用。MicroRNAs是槲皮素及其衍生物的分子靶标，并且是早期诊断富含槲皮素的饮食结果的预测生物标志物。批判性地讨论了槲皮素物种与其他共存的营养素/生物活性物质之间的协同作用对miRNA表达的影响及其相关机制的当前局限性和未来的研究方向，以及miRNA在总体营养控制中的作用。MicroRNAs是槲皮素及其衍生物的分子靶标，并且是早期诊断富含槲皮素的饮食结果的预测生物标志物。批判性地讨论了槲皮素物种与其他共存的营养素/生物活性物质之间的协同作用对miRNA表达的影响及其相关机制的当前局限性和未来的研究方向，以及miRNA在总体营养控制中的作用。