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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Quercetin glucuronides but not glucosides are present in human plasma after consumption of quercetin-3-glucoside or quercetin-4'-glucoside.

The nature of quercetin conjugates present in blood after consumption of quercetin glucosides is still unclear. In this study, we analyzed plasma of volunteers that had consumed 325 micromol of either quercetin-3-glucoside or quercetin-4'-glucoside as an oral solution. Quercetin metabolites were extracted with acetonitrile/phosphoric acid and these extracts were analyzed using a high performance liquid chromatography with Coularray detection that distinguishes between the glucuronidated and the glucosylated forms of quercetin. No intact quercetin glucosides and only trace amounts of aglycone were found in human plasma, irrespective of the glucoside ingested. This was confirmed by spiking the plasma with glucoside standards. The major components in plasma had the same retention time as quercetin glucuronide standards. These plasma components disappeared after treatment of the plasma with bovine liver beta-glucuronidase, under reformation of quercetin, and showed the same oxidation pattern as the glucuronides. These results suggest that after consumption of quercetin glucosides, quercetin glucuronides are major metabolites in plasma.

Acetonitriles↗
PubMed2001

Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometric study of degradation products of quercetin, quercetin-3-glucoside and quercetin-3-rhamnoglucoside, produced by in vitro fermentation with human faecal flora.

Eight phenolic compounds, obtained by in vitro fermentation of quercetin, quercetin-3-glucoside and quercetin-3-rhamnoglucoside were analysed by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Low-energy collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID-MS/MS) was performed on the [M - H]- precursor ions to obtain specific fragmentation. Typical fragmentation of the phenolic acids was loss of 44 (CO2) and 18 (H2O) u. Production of m/z 108 by loss of neutral radicals, e.g. HCO2, CH3 or HCO, was also favoured. Structures of the compounds, numbered 1-8, were suggested based on the fragmentation patterns.

Acetates↗
PubMed2000

Bioavailabilities of quercetin-3-glucoside and quercetin-4'-glucoside do not differ in humans.

The flavonoid quercetin is an antioxidant which occurs in foods mainly as glycosides. The sugar moiety in quercetin glycosides affects their bioavailability in humans. Quercetin-3-rutinoside is an important form of quercetin in foods, but its bioavailability in humans is only 20% of that of quercetin-4'-glucoside. Quercetin-3-rutinoside can be transformed into quercetin-3-glucoside by splitting off a rhamnose molecule. We studied whether this 3-glucoside has the same high bioavailability as the quercetin-4'-glucoside. To that end we fed five healthy men and four healthy women (19-57 y) a single dose of 325 micromol of pure quercetin-3-glucoside and a single dose of 331 micromol of pure quercetin-4'-glucoside and followed the plasma quercetin concentrations. The bioavailability was the same for both quercetin glucosides. The mean peak plasma concentration of quercetin was 5.0+/-1.0 micromol/L (+/-SE) after subjects had ingested quercetin-3-glucoside and 4.5+/-0.7 micromol/L after quercetin-4'-glucoside consumption. Peak concentration was reached 37 +/-12 min after ingestion of quercetin-3-glucoside and 27+/-5 min after quercetin-4'-glucoside. Half-life of elimination of quercetin from blood was 18.5+/-0.8 h after ingestion of quercetin-3-glucoside and 17.7+/-0.9 h after quercetin-4'-glucoside. We conclude that quercetin glucosides are rapidly absorbed in humans, irrespective of the position of the glucose moiety. Conversion of quercetin glycosides into glucosides is a promising strategy to enhance bioavailability of quercetin from foods.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Metabolism of quercetin-7- and quercetin-3-glucuronides by an in vitro hepatic model: the role of human beta-glucuronidase, sulfotransferase, catechol-O-methyltransferase and multi-resistant protein 2 (MRP2) in flavonoid metabolism.

Quercetin-3- and quercetin-7-glucuronides are major products of small intestine epithelial cell metabolism (J. Nutr. 130 (2000) 2765) but it is not known if quercetin glucuronides can be further processed in the liver or if they are excreted directly. Using the HepG2 hepatic cell model, we show that highly purified quercetin-7- and quercetin-3-glucuronides can follow two pathways of metabolism: (i) methylation of the catechol functional group of both quercetin glucuronides (44% of quercetin-7-glucuronide at a rate of 2.6 nmol/hr/10(6) cells, and 32% of quercetin-3-glucuronide at a rate of 1.9 nmol/hr/10(6) cells, over 48 hr) or (ii) hydrolysis of the glucuronide by endogenous beta-glucuronidase followed by sulfation to quercetin-3'-sulfate (7% of quercetin-7-glucuronide at a rate of 0.42 nmol/hr/10(6) cells and 10% of quercetin-3-glucuronide at a rate of 0.61 nmol/hr/10(6) cells, over 48 hr). In contrast, quercetin-4'-glucuronide was not metabolised, and interestingly this is not a major product of the small intestine absorption process. The conversion of the quercetin-7- and quercetin-3-glucuronide to the mono-sulfate conjugate shows intracellular deglucuronidation by beta-glucuronidase activity, allowing transient contact of the free aglycone with the cellular environment. Inhibition of methylation using a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor shifted metabolism towards sulfation, as indicated by an increase in quercetin-3'-sulfate formation (increase in rate to 1.13 and 1.43 nmol/hr/10(6) cells for quercetin-7-glucuronide and quercetin-3-glucuronide, respectively). Efflux of quercetin metabolites from HepG2 cells (methylated glucuronide and sulfate conjugates) was not altered by verapamil, a p-glycoprotein inhibitor, but efflux was competitively inhibited by MK-571, a multidrug resistant protein inhibitor, indicating a role for multidrug resistant protein in the efflux of quercetin conjugates from HepG2 cells. These results show that HepG2 cells can absorb and turnover quercetin glucuronides and that human endogenous beta-glucuronidase activity could modulate the intracellular biological activities of dietary antioxidant flavonoids.

Catechol O-Methyltransferase↗
PubMed2000

Pharmacokinetics of quercetin from quercetin aglycone and rutin in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Quercetin is a flavonoid with a wide range of biological activities. It mainly occurs in plants as glycosides, such as rutin (quercetin rutinoside) in tea. Quercetin and rutin are used in many countries as vasoprotectants and are ingredients of numerous multivitamin preparations and herbal remedies. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to characterise and compare the absorption and the pharmacokinetics of quercetin from quercetin aglycone and rutin. A secondary objective was to investigate which forms of quercetin are present in plasma. METHODS: In this double blind, diet-controlled, two-period cross-over study, 16 healthy volunteers received three different doses of quercetin and rutin orally. The doses corresponded to 8 mg, 20 mg and 50 mg quercetin aglycone. Blood samples were obtained between 0 h and 32 h post-dose. RESULTS: The overall kinetic behaviour of quercetin differed remarkably after ingestion of quercetin aglycone or rutin. The mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 h to 32 h [AUC(0-32)] and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) values of the two treatments were similar. However, time to reach Cmax (tmax) was significantly shorter after the quercetin aglycone treatment than after the rutin treatment (1.9, 2.7 and 4.8 versus 6.5, 7.4 and 7.5 h, for doses 1, 2 and 3, respectively). Also, the absorption of quercetin from quercetin aglycone was predictable and inter-individual variation was small. In contrast, after ingestion of rutin, inter-individual variations in AUC(0-32) and Cmax values were considerable and seemed to be associated with gender and use of oral contraceptives. Quercetin and rutin were found in plasma as glucuronides and/or sulfates of quercetin and as unconjugated quercetin aglycone, but no rutin was detected. CONCLUSIONS: In clinical trials, studying the effects of quercetin from rutin, bioavailability must be taken into consideration and plasma quercetin concentrations monitored. Whether our results apply to other glycosidic drugs as well, especially other rutosides, should be investigated.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1995

Absorption of dietary quercetin glycosides and quercetin in healthy ileostomy volunteers.

Quercetin is a dietary antioxidant that prevents oxidation of low-density lipoproteins in vitro. Intake of quercetin was inversely associated with coronary heart disease mortality in elderly Dutch men. However, the extent of absorption of quercetin in humans is unclear. The aim of this study was to quantify absorption of various forms of quercetin. Nine healthy ileostomy subjects were studied, to avoid losses caused by colonic bacteria. They followed a quercetin-free diet for 12 d; on days 4, 8, and 12 they received a supplement of fried onions at breakfast (rich in quercetin glucosides) equivalent to 89 mg aglycone, pure quercetin rutinoside (the major quercetin compound in tea) equivalent to 100 mg aglycone, or 100 mg pure quercetin aglycone, in random order. Subsequently, participants collected ileostomy effluent and urine for 13 h. In vitro incubations of quercetin or its glycosides with gastrointestinal fluids showed minimal degradation. Absorption of quercetin, defined as oral intake minus ileostomy excretion and corrected for 14% degradation within the ileostomy bag, was 52 +/- 15% for quercetin glucosides from onions, 17 +/- 15% for quercetin rutinoside, and 24 +/- 9% for quercetin aglycone. Mean excretion of quercetin or its conjugates in urine was 0.5% of the amount absorbed; quercetin excretion in urine was negatively correlated with excretion in ileostomy effluent (r = -0.78, n = 27). We conclude that humans absorb appreciable amounts of quercetin and that absorption is enhanced by conjugation with glucose.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Uptake of quercetin and quercetin 3-glucoside from whole onion and apple peel extracts by Caco-2 cell monolayers.

Evidence suggests that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and phytochemicals from fruits and vegetables may be responsible for this health benefit. However, there is limited knowledge on the bioavailability of specific phytochemicals from whole fruits and vegetables. This study used Caco-2 cells to examine uptake of quercetin aglycon and quercetin 3-glucoside as purified compounds and from whole onion and apple peel extracts. Pure quercetin aglycon was absorbed by the Caco-2 cells in higher concentrations than quercetin 3-glucoside (p < 0.05). Caco-2 cells treated with quercetin 3-glucoside accumulated both quercetin 3-glucoside and quercetin. Caco-2 cells absorbed more onion quercetin aglycon than onion quercetin 3-glucoside (p < 0.05), and the percentage of onion quercetin absorbed was greater than that of pure quercetin, most likely due to enzymatic hydrolysis of quercetin 3-glucoside and other quercetin glucosides found in the onion by the Caco-2 cells. Caco-2 cells absorbed low levels of quercetin 3-glucoside from apple peel extracts, but quercetin aglycon absorption was not detected. Caco-2 cell homogenates demonstrated both lactase and glucosidase activities when incubated with lactose and quercetin 3-glucoside, respectively. This use of the Caco2 cell model appears to be a simple and useful system for studying bioavailability of whole food phytochemicals and may be used to assess differences in bioavailability between foods.

Biological Availability↗
PubMed2005

In vitro digestion and lactase treatment influence uptake of quercetin and quercetin glucoside by the Caco-2 cell monolayer.

BACKGROUND: Quercetin and quercetin glycosides are widely consumed flavonoids found in many fruits and vegetables. These compounds have a wide range of potential health benefits, and understanding the bioavailability of flavonoids from foods is becoming increasingly important. METHODS: This study combined an in vitro digestion, a lactase treatment and the Caco-2 cell model to examine quercetin and quercetin glucoside uptake from shallot and apple homogenates. RESULTS: The in vitro digestion alone significantly decreased quercetin aglycone recovery from the shallot digestate (p < 0.05), but had no significant effect on quercetin-3-glucoside recovery (p > 0.05). Digestion increased the Caco-2 cell uptake of shallot quercetin-4'-glucoside by 2-fold when compared to the non-digested shallot. Despite the loss of quercetin from the digested shallot, the bioavailability of quercetin aglycone to the Caco-2 cells was the same in both the digested and non-digested shallot. Treatment with lactase increased quercetin recovery from the shallot digestate nearly 10-fold and decreased quercetin-4'-glucoside recovery by more than 100-fold (p < 0.05), but had no effect on quercetin recovery from apple digestates. Lactase treatment also increased shallot quercetin bioavailability to the Caco-2 cells approximately 14-fold, and decreased shallot quercetin-4'-glucoside bioavailability 23-fold (p < 0.05). These Caco-2 cells had lactase activity similar to that expressed by a lactose intolerant human. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in quercetin uptake following treatment with lactase suggests that dietary supplementation with lactase may increase quercetin bioavailability in lactose intolerant humans. Combining the digestion, the lactase treatment and the Caco-2 cell culture model may provide a reliable in vitro model for examining flavonoid glucoside bioavailability from foods.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Inhibition of mammalian 15-lipoxygenase-dependent lipid peroxidation in low-density lipoprotein by quercetin and quercetin monoglucosides.

Lipoxygenase is suggested to be involved in the early event of atherosclerosis by inducing plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in the subendothelial space of the arterial wall. Since flavonoids such as quercetin are recognized as lipoxygenase inhibitors and they occur mainly in the glycoside form, we assessed the effect of quercetin and its glycosides (quercetin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, Q3G; quercetin 4'-O-beta-glucopyranoside, Q4'G; quercetin 7-O-beta-glucopyranoside, Q7G) on rabbit reticulocyte 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX)-induced human LDL lipid peroxidation and compared it with the inhibition obtained by ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol, the main water-soluble and lipid-soluble antioxidants in blood plasma, respectively. Quercetin inhibited the formation of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides (CE-OOH) and endogenous alpha-tocopherol consumption effectively throughout the incubation period of 6 h. Ascorbic acid exhibited an effective inhibition only in the initial stage and LDL preloaded with fivefold alpha-tocopherol did not affect the formation of CE-OOH compared with the native LDL. CE-OOH formation was inhibited by both quercetin and quercetin monoglucosides in a concentration-dependent manner. Quercetin, Q3G, and Q7G exhibited a higher inhibitory effect than Q4'G (IC50: 0.3-0.5 microM for quercetin, Q3G, and Q7G and 1.2 microM for Q4'G). While endogenous alpha-tocopherol was completely depleted after 2 h of LDL oxidation, quercetin, Q7G, and Q3G prevented the consumption of alpha-tocopherol. Quercetin and its monoglucosides were also exhausted during the LDL oxidation. These results indicate that quercetin glycosides as well as its aglycone are capable of inhibiting lipoxygenase-induced LDL oxidation more efficiently than ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Quercetin 3-O-beta-glucoside is better absorbed than other quercetin forms and is not present in rat plasma.

The effect of the nature of the sugar moiety on quercetin absorption has been investigated in rats. Four groups of rats received an experimental meal containing 20 mg of quercetin equivalents, supplied as quercetin, quercetin 3-O-beta-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-beta-rhamnoside or rutin. Four hours after the meal, the metabolites identified in hydrolysed plasma were identical in all groups (3'- and 4'-methylquercetin). However, the total concentration of metabolites was markedly different: 11.2+/-1.8, 2.5+/-2.0 and 33.2+/-3.5 microM for the quercetin, rutin, and quercetin 3-glucoside meals respectively. After quercetin 3-rhamnoside consumption, we failed to detect any metabolites in the plasma. These data suggest that the 3-O-glucosylation improves the absorption of quercetin in the small intestine, whereas the binding of a rhamnose to the aglycone markedly depresses it. Additional experiments have shown that the higher plasma levels measured after quercetin 3-glucoside meal compared to the quercetin meal were maintained throughout the 24-hour period following the meal. Using a multi-electrode coulometric detection, together with suitable chromatographic conditions, we were able to distinguish between the conjugated and the glycosylated forms. Thus, we clearly showed the absence of quercetin 3-O-beta-glucoside in the plasma from rats fed a diet containing this glucoside. This result suggests that quercetin 3-O-beta-glucoside is hydrolysed before or during its intestinal absorption.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Quercetin metabolites in plasma of rats fed diets containing rutin or quercetin.

We studied the bioavailability and the plasma transport of flavonols in rats fed quercetin or rutin diets. Wistar rats were fed one of the following purified diets for 10 d: control; 16.4 or 8.2 mmol rutin/kg diet; or 16.4, 8.2 or 4.1 mmol quercetin/kg diet. Flavonol concentrations were determined in plasma, ileal and cecal contents, and feces. In rats fed diets containing 16.4 mmol quercetin or rutin/kg, the concentration of circulating flavonols was approximately 115 mumol/L. Quercetin or rutin administration resulted in similar concentrations of quercetin in cecal contents. By HPLC analysis and beta-glucuronidase/sulfatase treatment, plasma flavonols have been identified as conjugated quercetin itself, or a conjugated form (4.5-fold as abundant) of an aglycone less polar than quercetin. Rats fed quercetin or rutin diets had a green/yellow-colored plasma that exhibited a peak absorbance at 411 nm, vs. 363 or 375 nm for pure rutin or quercetin solutions, respectively. This shift of band I absorption was obtained when pure quercetin was in the presence of albumin or added to a plasma fraction. The bathochromic properties of flavonoids in the presence of albumin are highly dependent on the presence of the C-2/C-3 double bond on the C-ring and are influenced by the degree of B-ring hydroxylation. The existence of intermolecular bonds between albumin and quercetin is supported by in vitro absorbance and fluorescence studies. With human albumin, the fluorescence intensity and the shift of quercetin absorbance increased in parallel to the albumin/quercetin molar ratio. Conjugated diene formation, resulting from Cu(2+)-catalyzed oxidation of human LDL or rat VLDL+LDL was effectively inhibited in vitro by 0.5 mumol/L quercetin. These results show that dietary flavonols are recovered in rat plasma as conjugated metabolites in non-negligible concentrations, and that these flavonols may be interesting antioxidant micronutrients with a variety of biological effects.

Albumins↗
PubMed1995

Antioxidative activity of quercetin and quercetin monoglucosides in solution and phospholipid bilayers.

The antioxidative effect of quercetin, quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (Q3G), quercetin 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (Q4'G) and quercetin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (Q7G) was examined in solution and liposomal phospholipid suspension. First, their peroxyl radical-scavenging activities were investigated by measuring the inhibition of hydroperoxidation of methyl linoleate initiated by a radical initiator, 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN). Quercetin exhibited the highest peroxyl radical-scavenging activity judging from the rate of hydroperoxidation during the induction period (Rinh) and the length of induction period (tinh). Although Q7G showed an induction period, its Rinh was higher and its tinh was lower than that of quercetin. Neither Q3G nor Q4'G gave a clear induction period in the curve of hydroperoxide formation. The rate of hydroperoxidation in the presence of Q3G was higher than Rinh of quercetin and the oxidative loss of Q3G was much slower than quercetin or Q7G when exposed to AMVN in solution. Q4'G exerted little inhibition compared to Q3G or Q7G. Next, the antioxidative activity of quercetin and its monoglucosides in phospholipid bilayers was examined by measuring the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in large unilamellar vesicles composed of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) and a water-soluble radical initiator. They retarded the accumulation of PC-hydroperoxides and the induction period increased in the order of Q4'G < Q3G approximately Q7G < quercetin. It is therefore concluded that quercetin acts as an antioxidant more efficiently than its monoglucosides when phospholipid bilayers are exposed to aqueous oxygen radicals.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2003

Inactivation of creatine kinase induced by quercetin with horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide. pro-oxidative and anti-oxidative actions of quercetin.

Pro-oxidative and anti-oxidative actions of quercetin were examined through inactivation of CK and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Quercetin induced inactivation of creatine kinase (CK) during the interaction with horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide (HRP-H(2)O(2)). CK activity in heart homogenate was also reduced by quercetin with HRP-H(2)O(2). Flavonoids that have a catechol structure in the B ring, such as taxifolin, catechin and luteolin, also induced CK inactivation. These flavonoids strongly inhibited NADPH and ADP-Fe(3+)-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation. These results suggest a close relationship between pro-oxidative and anti-oxidative actions of quercetin. Electron spin resonance (ESR) signals of the quercetin radical was emitted during the interaction of quercetin with HRP-H(2)O(2) in the presence of Zn(2+) as a stabilizer. Adding CK diminished the ESR signals of quercetin radicals, suggesting CK efficiently scavenged quercetin radicals. Sulfhydryl groups and tryptophan residues in CK decreased during the interaction of quercetin with HRP-H(2)O(2). The kinetic parameters of K(m) and V(max) for ADP and creatine phosphate changed rapidly, suggesting that the inactivation of CK was induced through conformational change of the enzyme. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase had a higher sensitivity to quercetin with HRP-H(2)O(2) than CK. Quercetin radicals may mediate between pro-oxidative and anti-oxidative action.

Creatine Kinase↗
PubMed2001

Identification of quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucuronide as an antioxidative metabolite in rat plasma after oral administration of quercetin.

The potential beneficial effect of dietary quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) has attracted much attention in relation to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. It is generally recognized that dietary quercetin is subject to metabolic conversion resulting in conjugated forms during absorption and circulation. However, no quercetin conjugates have yet been identified from biological fluids or tissues. In the present study, we isolated and characterized two quercetin conjugates from the plasma of quercetin-administered rats. The blood plasma was collected from 26 rats 30 min after oral administration of quercetin (250 mg/kg body weight), concentrated, dissolved in 2% acetic acid aqueous solution (pH 2.65), and extracted with ethyl acetate. Two compounds (P2, P3) were obtained from the extract by repeated reversed-phase HPLC. On the other hand, two quercetin glucuronides were synthesized chemically and identified as quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucuronide (Q3GA) and quercetin 4'-O-beta-D-glucuronide (Q4'GA), as determined from FABMS, 1H- and 13C-NMR, and HMBC data. The retention times of P2 and P3 in the HPLC chromatogram corresponded to those of Q3GA and Q4'GA, respectively. FABMS data demonstrated that P2 and P3 are quercetin monoglucuronides. 1H-NMR data for P2 were completely in agreement with those for Q3GA. P2 was therefore identified as Q3GA. This is, to our knowledge, the first evidence that Q3GA accumulates in vivo after oral administration of quercetin. Q3GA is likely to act as an effective antioxidant in blood plasma low-density lipoprotein, because this conjugated metabolite was found to possess a substantial antioxidant effect on copper ion-induced oxidation of human plasma low-density lipoprotein as well as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

Long-term combined administration of quercetin and daidzein inhibits quercetin-induced suppression of glutathione antioxidant defenses.

In this study, we investigated the effects of long-term administration of quercetin with or without daidzein on glutathione and the enzymes involved in its metabolism in rat liver in vivo. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into four groups and given oral quercetin (20 mg/day) and daidzein (20 mg/day) alone or in combination, or vehicle alone for six weeks. The serum and liver alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significantly increased following administration of quercetin and daidzein alone or in combination. Glutathione concentration and glutathione reductase activity was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased with quercetin treatment, while no such effect was observed with daidzein treatment. Interestingly, decrease in glutathione concentration and glutathione reductase activity by quercetin treatment was inhibited by combined administration of daidzein and quercetin. The malondialdehyde concentration was significantly decreased following administration of quercetin and daidzein alone or in combination. These results suggest that quercetin, but not daidzein, acts as a pro-oxidant agent by decreasing glutathione concentration and glutathione reductase activity. Interestingly, this pro-oxidant effect of quercetin was inhibited by the combined administration of quercetin and daidzein.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Neuroprotective effects of antioxidative flavonoids, quercetin, (+)-dihydroquercetin and quercetin 3-methyl ether, isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten.

The flavonoids quercetin, (+)-dihydroquercetin, and quercetin 3-methyl ether were isolated from the ethyl acetate fractions of the fruits and stems of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten. In the present study, we evaluated their protective effects against oxidative neuronal injuries induced in primary cultured rat cortical cells and their antioxidant activities by using three different cell-free bioassays. Quercetin was found to inhibit H(2)O(2)- or xanthine (X)/xanthine oxidase (XO)-induced oxidative neuronal cell injury, with an estimated IC(50) of 4-5 micro g/ml. However, it was no more protective at concentrations of 30 micro g/ml and above. (+)-Dihydroquercetin concentration-dependently inhibited oxidative neuronal injuries, but it was less potent than quercetin. On the other hand, quercetin 3-methyl ether potently and dramatically inhibited H(2)O(2)- and X/XO-induced neuronal injuries, with IC(50) values of 0.6 and 0.7 micro g/ml, respectively. All three principles markedly inhibited lipid peroxidation and scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radicals. In addition, quercetin and quercetin 3-methyl ether were shown to inhibit XO activity in vitro, with respective IC(50) values of 10.67 and 42.01 micro g/ml. These results indicate that quercetin, (+)-dihydroquercetin, and quercetin 3-methyl ether are the active antioxidant principles in the fruits and stems of Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten exhibiting neuroprotective actions against the oxidative injuries induced in cortical cell cultures. Furthermore, quercetin 3-methyl ether appears to be the most potent neuroprotectant of the three flavonoids isolated from this plant.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The antioxidant, rather than prooxidant, activities of quercetin on normal cells: quercetin protects mouse thymocytes from glucose oxidase-mediated apoptosis.

The bioflavonoid quercetin is a dietary anticancer chemical that is capable of inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. Although the activity of quercetin is believed to be due to its antioxidative properties, it has recently been suggested that quercetin also has prooxidant activities, which might effect cytotoxicity directly. In this study, we used mouse thymocytes to investigate whether quercetin behaved as a protector against oxidative stress or as a cytotoxic agent. Quercetin treatment did not induce oxidative damage, but protected mouse thymocytes from glucose oxidase (GO)-mediated apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that quercetin (50 microM) treatment suppressed the GO-mediated DNA binding activity of redox state-sensitive transcription factors, such as NF-kappaB, AP-1, and p53. This result suggests that quercetin has antioxidative effects on thymocytes. More interestingly, quercetin treatment alone (50 microM) increased the DNA-binding activity of AP-1, which consisted of heterodimer of c-Jun and Fra-2. Finally, the antioxidant activity of quercetin was confirmed using a cell-free system of radical generation. Our findings suggest that quercetin protects mouse thymocytes from oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis and modulates the intracellular redox state through its antioxidant activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Absorption of quercetin-3-glucoside and quercetin-4'-glucoside in the rat small intestine: the role of lactase phlorizin hydrolase and the sodium-dependent glucose transporter.

Two hypotheses on absorption mechanisms of flavonoid glucosides across the small intestine have been proposed: active uptake of the quercetin glucoside by the sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT1) with subsequent deglycosylation within the enterocyte by cytosolic beta-glucosidase, or luminal hydrolysis of the glucoside by lactase phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) and absorption by passive diffusion of the released aglycone. To test the above hypotheses we employed phlorizin (as an inhibitor of SGLT1) and N-(n-butyl)-deoxygalactonojirimycin (as an inhibitor of the lactase domain of LPH) in a rat everted-jejunal sac model. Quercetin-4'-glucoside mucosal hydrolysis was 10 times greater than quercetin-3-glucoside hydrolysis in the absence of inhibitors (449 and 47 nmol g(-1) tissue, respectively), despite the similar amounts (13+/-4 and 9+/-1 nmol g(-1), respectively) being transferred to the serosal compartment during the 15 min incubation. Apical hydrolysis of both quercetin glucosides was significantly reduced in the presence of NB-DGJ (80%), and transfer of quercetin (measured as quercetin metabolites) to the serosal solution was also significantly reduced (40-50%). In the presence of phlorizin, transfer of metabolites to the serosal solution was only reduced in the case of quercetin-4'-glucoside. Evidently the mechanism of absorption of quercetin-4'-glucoside involves both an interaction with SGLT1 and luminal hydrolysis by LPH, whereas quercetin-3-glucoside appears to be absorbed only following hydrolysis by LPH.

Analysis of Variance↗