Abstract: Objective To investigate the protective effects of quercetin on spinal cord injury model of rats and its potential mechanism. Methods Totally 72 adult SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham group (n=24), spinal cord injury (SCI) group (n=24) and quercetin (Que) group (n=24). Model of spinal cord injury was established by modified Allen's assay. From first day after injury, motor function of rats' hind limb was evaluated by BBB (Basso Beattie and Bresnahan) scores. Content of myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) in spinal cord tissue and levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) in serum were determined by Elisa and white blood cell (WBC) count was evaluated by whole blood cell analysis. Pathological changes of spinal cord tissues were observed with HE staining. Results Compared with model group, the content of MPO in injured spinal cord at 6 h after injury in Que group decreased from (65.5±12.3) nmol/mg to (42.2±10.3) nmol/mg, MDA levels decreased from (62.9±2.7) U/g to (50.3±1.8) U/g, TNF-α levels in serum decreased from (398.1±7.4) pg/ml to (284.4±7.6) pg/ml, IL-6 levels decreased from (359.1±20.9) pg/ml to (242.9±5.2) pg/ml, and WBC counts (cells per field of view) decreased from (6.6±1.2) to (3.4±0.8), while SOD activity increased from (212.4±10.3) U/mg to (310.6±11.3) U/mg, IL-10 levels increased from (288.3±4.8) pg/ml to (347.9±5.9) pg/ml (P＜0.05). Compared with SCI group, BBB scores improved significantly from (6.7±0.4) to (9.1±0.7) at 14 d after injury in Que group (P＜0.05). The pathological injury of spinal cord was relieved in Que group. Conclusion Quercetin administration results in the improvement of motor function after spinal cord injury. Its potential mechanism may be related with its effect on attenuating the recruitment of neutrophils to the injury site and lowering the content of MPO, MDA released in the injured tissue is likely to decrease the extent of secondary spinal cord injury.