Review of the biology of quercetin and related bioflavonoids

The French paradox is a dietary anomaly which has focused attention on the Mediterranean diet. Epidemiological studies revealed that this diet, replete in flavonoid-rich foods (Allium and Brassica vegetables, and red wine), correlated with the increased longevity and decreased incidence of cardiovas...

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Published in:	Food and Chemical Toxicology Vol. 33; no. 12; pp. 1061 - 1080
Main Authors:	Formica, J.V., Regelson, W.
Format:	Book Review Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-12-1995 New York, NY Elsevier Science
Subjects:	Animals Anti-Inflammatory Agents Antineoplastic Agents Antiviral Agents Biological and medical sciences Carcinogens Cardiovascular System - drug effects Coronary Disease - epidemiology Coronary Disease - etiology Coronary Disease - prevention & control Eicosanoids - metabolism Europe Flavonoids - chemistry Flavonoids - metabolism Flavonoids - pharmacology Flavonoids - toxicity Food toxicology Humans Immune System - drug effects Medical sciences Mutagens Quercetin - chemistry Quercetin - metabolism Quercetin - pharmacology Quercetin - toxicity Toxicology France Mediterranean Sea Europe LDL = low-density lipoprotein GTP = guanosine triphosphate RLV = Raucher murineleukaemia virus cGMP = cyclic guanosine monophosphate CO == cyclo-oxygenase ACh = acetylcholine TPA = 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate PGES = prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase ADP = adenosine diphosphate HDL = high density lipoprotein PLA 2 = phospholipase A 2 CoA = coenzyme A Fe 3+ ==ferric PGE 2 = prostaglandin E 2 H 2O 2 = hydrogen peroxide DMBA = dimethylbenz[ alanthracene AIDS = acquired immunodeficiency syndrome CHD = coronary heart disease Ca 2+ = calcium PKC = protein kinase C DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid LTB 4 = leukotriene B 4 MMLV = Maloney murine leukaemia virus LO = lipoxygenase NK = natural killer TXB 4 = thromboxane B 4 ATP = adenosine triphosphate IC 50 = concentration causing 50% inhibition IL-1 = interleukin 1 RNA = ribonucleic acid PGI 2 = prostaglandin I 2 cAMP = cyclic adenosine monophosphate GSE = grape skin extract HIV = human immunodeficiency virus NO = nitric oxide RT = reverse transcriptase FAA = flavone acetic acid K i = dissociation constant TXA 2 = thromboxane A 2 Cu 2+ = cupric Human Monocotyledones Cardiovascular disease Review Longevity Anticarcinogen Epidemiology Flavonoid Biological activity Allium Prevention Liliaceae Brassica Diet Cruciferae Dicotyledones Angiospermae Plant origin Quercetin Antiviral Spermatophyta
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Summary:	The French paradox is a dietary anomaly which has focused attention on the Mediterranean diet. Epidemiological studies revealed that this diet, replete in flavonoid-rich foods (Allium and Brassica vegetables, and red wine), correlated with the increased longevity and decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease seen in these populations. The most frequently studied flavonoid, quercetin, has been shown to have biological properties consistent with its sparing effect on the cardiovascular system. Quercetin and other flavonoids have been shown to modify eicosanoid biosynthesis (antiprostanoid and anti-inflammatory responses), protect low-density lipoprotein from oxidation (prevent atherosclerotic plaque formation), prevent platelet aggregation (antithrombic effects), and promote relaxation of cardiovascular smooth muscle (antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic effects). In addition, flavonoids have been shown to have antiviral and carcinostatic properties. However, flavonoids are poorly absorbed from the gut and are subject to degradation by intestinal micro-organisms. The amount of quercetin that remains biologically available may not be of sufficient concentration, theoretically, to explain the beneficial effects seen with the Mediterranean diet. The role of flavonoids may transcend their presence in food. The activity of flavonoids as inhibitors of reverse transcriptase suggests a place for these compounds in the control of retrovirus infections, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In addition to specific effects, the broad-modulating effects of flavonoids as antioxidants, inhibitors of ubiquitous enzymes (ornithine carboxylase, protein kinase, calmodulin), and promoters of vasodilatation and platelet disaggregation can serve as starting material for drug development programmes.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 ObjectType-Review-3 content type line 23
ISSN:	0278-6915 1873-6351
DOI:	10.1016/0278-6915(95)00077-1