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Review

Natural Flavonoids for the Prevention of Sarcopenia: Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms

1
Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
2
Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, BK21 Four Institute of Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
3
Department of Food Bioscience & Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7458; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157458 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 22 June 2025 / Revised: 29 July 2025 / Accepted: 30 July 2025 / Published: 1 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Natural Products in Human Health and Disease)

Abstract

Sarcopenia, characterized by progressive skeletal muscle loss and functional decline, represents a major public heath challenge in aging populations. Despite increasing awareness, current management strategies—primarily resistance exercise and nutritional support—remain limited by accessibility, adherence, and inconsistent outcomes. This underscores the urgent need for novel, effective, and scalable therapeutics. Flavonoids, a diverse class of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds, have attracted attention for their muti-targeted biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, metabolic, and myogenic effects. This review aims to evaluate the anti-sarcopenic potential of selected flavonoids—quercetin, rutin, kaempferol glycosides, baicalin, genkwanin, isoschaftoside, naringin, eriocitrin, and puerarin—based on recent preclinical findings and mechanistic insights. These compounds modulate key pathways involved in muscle homeostasis, such as NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling, AMPK and PI3K/Akt activation, mitochondrial biogenesis, proteosomal degradation, and satellite cell function. Importantly, since muscle wasting also features prominently in cancer cachexia—a distinct but overlapping syndrome—understanding flavonoid action may offer broader therapeutic relevance. By targeting shared molecular axes, flavonoids may provide a promising, biologically grounded approach to mitigating sarcopenia and the related muscle-wasting conditions. Further translational studies and clinical trials are warranted to assess their efficacy and safety in human populations.
Keywords: sarcopenia; aging; muscle-atrophy; natural compounds sarcopenia; aging; muscle-atrophy; natural compounds

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Yoon, Y.E.; Ju, S.H.; Kim, Y.; Lee, S.-J. Natural Flavonoids for the Prevention of Sarcopenia: Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 7458. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157458

AMA Style

Yoon YE, Ju SH, Kim Y, Lee S-J. Natural Flavonoids for the Prevention of Sarcopenia: Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(15):7458. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157458

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yoon, Ye Eun, Seong Hun Ju, Yebean Kim, and Sung-Joon Lee. 2025. "Natural Flavonoids for the Prevention of Sarcopenia: Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 15: 7458. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157458

APA Style

Yoon, Y. E., Ju, S. H., Kim, Y., & Lee, S.-J. (2025). Natural Flavonoids for the Prevention of Sarcopenia: Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(15), 7458. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157458

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