QUERCETIN

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid. Quercetin is a natural antioxidant found
mainly in red wine grapefruit, onions, apples and black tea. Quercetin
protects cells in the body from damage by free radicals, quercetin might
help protect against heart attacks as well as strokes. Quercetin may
also help prevent immune cells from releasing histamine, the chemical
that initiates the itching, sneezing, and swelling of an allergic reaction.
Thus, quercetin is often recommended as a treatment for allergies such
as hay fever, hives, eczema and asthma.

BENEFITS OF QUERCETIN; RESEARCH FINDS

ALLERGY Asthma incidence was lower at higher quercetin intakes. The
flavonoid quercetin addresses the inflammatory component of asthma.
Studies have shown that quercetin prevents certain immune cells from
releasing histamine. Histamine is a chemical that triggers an allergic
reaction
[Ogasawara H et al, Effect of selected flavonoids on histamine release (HR) and
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation by human leukocytes [abstract]. J Allergy Clin Immunol.
1985;75(suppl):184. Middleton E Jr. Effect of flavonoids on basophil histamine release and other
secretory systems. Prog Clin Biol Res. 1986;213:493–506.] [Knekt P et al, Flavonoid intake and
risk of chronic diseases. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Sep;76(3):560-8.]  Miller AL. The etiologies,
pathophysiology, and alternative/complementary treatment of asthma. Altern Med Rev. 2001 Feb;
6(1):20-47.

INFLAMMATION One small double-blind, placebo-controlled study has
found preliminary evidence that quercetin might help prostatitis, an
inflammation or infection of the prostate gland.
[Shoskes DA et al. Quercetin in
men with category III chronic prostatitis: a preliminary prospective, double-blind, placebo-
controlled trial. Urology. 1999;54:960–963.]
Another small double-blind placebo-controlled trial showed quercetin
supplementation reduced symptoms of interstitial cystitis
[Rodriguez LV et al.
Treatment of interstitial cystitis with a quercetin containing compound: a preliminary, double-
blind placebo control trial. Presented at: American Urological Association 2001 Annual Meeting;
June 2–7, 2001; Anaheim, Calif]

HEART DISEASES AND STROKE Quercetin might help prevent heart
diseases and stroke.
Constant J. Alcohol, ischemic heart disease, and the French
paradox. Coron Artery Dis. 1997;8:645–649. Hayek T et al, Reduced progression of
atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice following consumption of red wine, or its
polyphenols quercetin or catechin, is associated with reduced susceptibility of LDL to oxidation
and aggregation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1997;17:2744–2752. Frankel EN et al
Inhibition of human LDL oxidation by resveratrol. Lancet. 1993;341:1103–1104. Alliangana DM.
Effects of beta-carotene, flavonoid quercetin and quinacrine on cell proliferation and lipid
peroxidation breakdown products in BHK-21 cells. East Afr MedJ. 1996;73:752–757. Keli SO et
al. Dietary flavonoids, antioxidant vitamins, and incidence of stroke: the Zupthen study. Arch
Intern Med. 1996;156:637–642.

PLATELET AGGREGATION Quercetin has inhibitory properties of blood
platelet aggregation (clumping). Consequently, manufacturers are
interesting to put them together in the product.
[Beretz, et al, “Role of cyclic
AMP in the inhibition of human platelet aggregation by quercetin, a flavonoid that potentiates
the effect of prostacyclin.” Biochemical Pharmacology 1981;31(22):3597-600.

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVTIES Quercetin scavenges a variety of free-radicals
such as hydroxyl and lipid peroxy radicals
[1] Quercetin protects LDL from oxidation
by lipid peroxides and transition metal ions. Oxidized LDL is absorbed by macrophages and
arterial endothelial cells, eventually leading to plaque deposits in arterial walls. [AfanasÂ’ev, I.B.
et. al., “Chelating and free radical scavenging mechanisms of inhibitory action of rutin and
quercetin in lipid peroxidation.” Biochemical Pharmacology 1989;38(11):1763-69. De Whalley,
C.V., “Flavonoids inhibit the oxidative modification of low density lipoproteins by macrophages.
” Biochemical Pharmacology 39(11):1743-50.]

CANCER Quercetin might have cancer preventive properties, based on
some in vitro and animal studies.
[ Balasubramanian S, Govindasamy S. Inhibitory
effect of dietary flavonol quercetin on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hamster buccal
pouch carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis. 1996;17:877–879. Cross HJ et al. Effect of quercetin on
the genotoxic potential of cisplatin. Int J Cancer. 1996;66:404–408. Hoffman R et al. Enhanced
anti-proliferative action of busulphan by quercetin on the human leukaemia cell line K562. Br J
Cancer. 1989;59:347–348. ElAttar TM et al. Modulating effect of resveratrol and quercetin on
oral cancer cell growth and proliferation. Anticancer Drugs. 1999;10:187–193. Yoshida M et al.
Quercetin arrests human leukemic T-cells in late G1 phase of the cell cycle. Cancer Res. 1992;52:
6676–6681.

TYPES II DIABETES A trend toward a reduction in risk of type 2 diabetes
was associated with higher quercetin intake.
[Knekt P., Flavonoid intake and risk of
chronic diseases. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Sep;76(3):560-8.]
CATARACTS Quercetin might protect rodents with diabetes from forming cataracts. [Varma SD et
al. Diabetic cataracts and flavonoids. Science. 1977;195:205–206]

VIRAL INFECTION Quercetin seems to prevent a wide range of viruses
from infecting cells from cell studies.
[Kaul TN et al. Antiviral effect of flavonoids on
human viruses. J Med Virol. 1985;15:71–79. Musci I, Pragai BM. Inhibition of virus
multiplication and alteration of cyclic AMP level in cell cultures by flavonoids. Experientia. 1985;
41:930–931.]

SIDE EFFECTS OF QUERCETIN
Drug Interaction The bioavailibility of diltiazem in the rabbits pretreated
with quercetin is increased significantly.
Choi JS. Enhanced diltiazem bioavailability
after oral administration of diltiazem with quercetin to rabbits. Int J Pharm. 2005 Jun 13;297(1-2):
1-8.

QUERCETIN PRODUCTS

There are two popular quercetin products- quercetin bromelain and
Activated Quercetin.

QUERCETIN BROMELAIN Bromelain is an enzyme complex derived from
the pineapple stem. Bromelain may assist the absorption of quercetin in
the G.I. tract.
[Hollma, P. et. al., “Absorption of dietary quercetin glycosides and quercetin
in healthy ileostomy volunteers.” Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1995;62:1276-82.]

Quercetin and bromelain both have inhibitory properties of blood platelet
aggregation (clumping). Consequently, manufacturers are interesting to
put them together in the product.
[Beretz, et al, “Role of cyclic AMP in the inhibition
of human platelet aggregation by quercetin, a flavonoid that potentiates the effect of prostacyclin.
” Biochemical Pharmacology 1981;31(22):3597-600. Heinicke et al “Effect of bromelain
(Ananase®) on human platelet aggregation. ”Experientia 1972;28(7):844]

ACTIVATED QUERCETIN Source Naturals ‘ Activated Quercetin is
probably the most advertised quercetin product over the internet. It is a
blend of quercetin, magnesium ascorbate, and bromelain.

Activated Quercetin is actually a state-of-the-art quercetin complex. It is
advertised that the additional ingredients can maximize the absorption
and benefits of quercetin. Thus, quercetin is thought to be a potent
formula.

I
NTERESTING RESEARCH FINDINGS ABOUT RED WINE OR
QUERCETIN

Quercetin has shown cancer-preventive effects in some studies,
catechin, another important ingredient of red wine, showed to delay
tumor onset in a mouse model.
[Ebeler SE et al, Animal models and analytical
approaches for understanding the relationships between wine and cancer. Drugs Exp Clin Res.
2005;31(1):19-27.

Quercetin is also found in Smilax bockii warb. And, the root extract of
Smilax bockii warb showed anti-inflammatory properties.
Xu J.
Antiinflammatory constituents from the roots of Smilax bockii warb. Arch Pharm Res. 2005 Apr;28
(4):395-9.

Induction of HO-1 protein may participate in the protective mechanism of
uercetin on oxidative stress (H(2)O(2))-induced apoptosis, and reduction
of intracellular ROS production and mitochondria dysfunction with
blocking apoptotic events were involved.
[Chow JM, Quercetin, but not rutin and
quercitrin, prevention of H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis via anti-oxidant activity and heme oxygenase
1 gene expression in macrophages. Biochem Pharmacol. 2005 Jun 15;69(12):1839-51.]

The aerial part of Proustia pyrifolia has antiinflammatory, analgesic and
antioxidant activities The extract of this plant is found to contain beta-
sitosterol, quercetin and dihydroquercetin.
Delporte C, Analgesic-antiinflammatory
properties of Proustia pyrifolia. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 May 13;99(1):119-24.

Topotecan has cytotoxic activity against both of the breast cancer cell
lines in vitro. A combination with Quercetin increases efficacy of
Topotecan in the treatment of breast cancers.
Akbas SH et al, The effect of
quercetin on topotecan cytotoxicity in MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer cells. J
Surg Res. 2005 May 1;125(1):49-55.

THIS ARICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. PLEASE, CONSULT WITH YOUR
DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
                                          
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Quercetinside effects
updated on May  27, 2008       Zhion@zhion.com
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