The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has caused a devastating health crisis worldwide. In this review, we have discussed that prophylactic phytochemical quercetin supplementation in the form of foods or nutraceuticals may help manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The following evidence supports our argument. First, nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (NRF2) agonists abrogate replication of SARS-CoV-2 in lung cells, and quercetin is a potent NRF2 agonist. Second, quercetin exerts antiviral activity against several zoonotic coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, mainly by inhibiting the entry of virions into host cells. Third, inflammatory pathways activated by nuclear factor kappa B, inflammasome, and interleukin-6 signals elicit cytokine release syndrome that promotes acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with COVID-19, and quercetin inhibits these pro-inflammatory signals. Fourth, patients with COVID-19 develop thrombosis, and quercetin mitigates coagulation abnormalities by inhibiting plasma protein disulfide isomerase. This review provides a strong rationale for testing quercetin for the management of COVID-19.

由严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 感染引起的 2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 大流行已在全球范围内造成毁灭性的健康危机。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了以食物或保健品形式预防性补充植物化学槲皮素可能有助于控制 COVID-19 大流行。以下证据支持我们的论点。首先，核因子红细胞衍生的 2 样 2 (NRF2) 激动剂消除了 SARS-CoV-2 在肺细胞中的复制，而槲皮素是一种有效的 NRF2 激动剂。其次，槲皮素对包括 SARS-CoV-2 在内的几种人畜共患冠状病毒具有抗病毒活性，主要是通过抑制病毒粒子进入宿主细胞。第三，由核因子 kappa B、炎症小体激活的炎症通路，和白细胞介素 6 信号引发细胞因子释放综合征，促进 COVID-19 患者的急性呼吸窘迫综合征，而槲皮素抑制这些促炎信号。第四，COVID-19患者出现血栓形成，槲皮素通过抑制血浆蛋白二硫键异构酶来减轻凝血异常。这篇综述为测试槲皮素治疗 COVID-19 提供了强有力的理由。