Abstract: OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of quercetin on nerve cell apoptosis after traumatic brain injury(TBI) via PGC-1α signal pathway. METHODS Forty eight ICR mice were selected and randomly divided into four groups(n=12 in each group):sham operation group, TBI group, TBI+vehicle group and TBI+quercetin group. Mice model of free falling body impingement brain injury was established and quercetin was injected intraperitoneally 30 min after TBI. Brain edema and neurobehavioral assessments were detected 24 h after TBI. Nissl staining was used for obtain nerve cell apoptosis. The expression of PGC-1α, the level of Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blotting analysis and immumohistochemical staining was used to verify the expression of nerve cell PGC-1α after TBI. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group, brain edema and nerve cell apoptosis of TBI group were increased significantly(P < 0.01). Expression of PGC-1α and Bax were increased significantly, and expression of Bcl-2 decreased(P < 0.01). Compared with TBI + vehicle group, brain edema and nerve cell apoptosis of TBI + quercetin group were decreased significantly(P < 0.05), expression of Bax were decreased significantly, and PGC-1α and Bcl-2 increased significantly(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Quercetin can reduce the apoptosis of nerve cells after TBI by activating PGC-1α pathway and play an effective role in brain protection.