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. [Afanas’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.
INTERESTING 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.
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Quercetinside effects updated on May 27, 2008 Zhion@zhion.com