Quercetin
Quercetin is a plant flavonol from the flavonoid group of polyphenols. It is found in many fruits, vegetables, leaves, seeds, and grains; capers, red onions, and kale are common foods containing appreciable amounts of it.[2][3] It has a bitter flavor and is used as an ingredient in dietary supplements, beverages, and foods.
Names | |
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Pronunciation | /ˈkwɜːrsɪtɪn/ |
IUPAC name
3,3′,4′,5,7-Pentahydroxyflavone | |
Preferred IUPAC name
2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | |
Other names
5,7,3′,4′-flavon-3-ol, Sophoretin, Meletin, Quercetine, Xanthaurine, Quercetol, Quercitin, Quertine, Flavin meletin | |
Identifiers | |
CAS Number |
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3D model (JSmol) |
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Beilstein Reference |
317313 |
ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
ChemSpider | |
DrugBank | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.003.807 |
EC Number |
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Gmelin Reference |
579210 |
KEGG | |
PubChem CID |
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UNII |
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UN number | 2811 |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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InChI
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SMILES
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Properties | |
Chemical formula |
C15H10O7 |
Molar mass | 302.236 g/mol |
Appearance | yellow crystalline powder[1] |
Density | 1.799 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 316 °C (601 °F; 589 K) |
Solubility in water |
Practically insoluble in water; soluble in aqueous alkaline solutions[1] |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references |
Occurrence
Quercetin is a flavonoid widely distributed in nature.[2] The name has been used since 1857, and is derived from quercetum (oak forest), after the oak genus Quercus.[4][5] It is a naturally occurring polar auxin transport inhibitor.[6]
Quercetin is one of the most abundant dietary flavonoids,[2][3] with an average daily consumption of 25–50 milligrams.[7]
Foods | Quercetin, mg / 100 g |
---|---|
capers, raw | 234[3] |
capers, canned | 173[3] |
lovage leaves, raw | 170[3] |
dock like sorrel | 86[3] |
radish leaves | 70[3] |
carob fiber | 58[3] |
dill weed, fresh | 55[3] |
cilantro | 53[3] |
yellow wax pepper, raw | 51[3] |
fennel leaves | 49[3] |
onion, red | 32[3] |
radicchio | 32[3] |
watercress | 30[3] |
kale | 23[3] |
chokeberry | 19[3] |
bog blueberry | 18[3] |
buckwheat seeds | 15[3] |
cranberry | 15[3] |
lingonberry | 13[3] |
plums, black | 12[3] |
In red onions, higher concentrations of quercetin occur in the outermost rings and in the part closest to the root, the latter being the part of the plant with the highest concentration.[8] One study found that organically grown tomatoes had 79% more quercetin than non-organically grown fruit.[9] Quercetin is present in various kinds of honey from different plant sources.[10]
Biosynthesis
In plants, phenylalanine is converted to 4-coumaroyl-CoA in a series of steps known as the general phenylpropanoid pathway using phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumaroyl-CoA-ligase.[11] One molecule of 4-coumaroyl-CoA is added to three molecules of malonyl-CoA to form tetrahydroxychalcone using 7,2′-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavanol synthase. Tetrahydroxychalcone is then converted into naringenin using chalcone isomerase.
Naringenin is converted into eriodictyol using flavanoid 3′-hydroxylase. Eriodictyol is then converted into dihydroquercetin with flavanone 3-hydroxylase, which is then converted into quercetin using flavonol synthase.[11]
Glycosides
Quercetin is the aglycone form of a number of other flavonoid glycosides, such as rutin (also known as quercetin-3-O-rutinoside) and quercitrin, found in citrus fruit, buckwheat and onions.[2] Quercetin forms the glycosides quercitrin and rutin together with rhamnose and rutinose, respectively. Likewise guaijaverin is the 3-O-arabinoside, hyperoside is the 3-O-galactoside, isoquercitin is the 3-O-glucoside and spiraeoside is the 4′-O-glucoside. CTN-986 is a quercetin derivative found in cottonseeds and cottonseed oil. Miquelianin is the quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside.[12]
A number of taxifolin (also known as dihydroquercetin) glycosides also exists.
Isoquercetin is the 3-O-glucoside of quercetin.
Pharmacology
Pharmacokinetics
The bioavailability of quercetin in humans after oral intake is very low, with one study concluding it must be less than 1%.[15] Intravenous injection of quercetin shows a rapid decay in concentration described by a two-compartment model (initial half-life of 8.8 minutes, terminal half-life of 2.4 hours).[15] Because it undergoes rapid and extensive metabolism, the biological effects presumed from in vitro studies are unlikely to apply in vivo.[2][16][17][18] Quercetin supplements in the aglycone form are less bioavailable than the quercetin glycoside often found in foods, especially red onions.[2][19] Ingestion with high-fat foods may increase bioavailability compared to ingestion with low-fat foods,[19] and carbohydrate-rich foods may increase absorption of quercetin by stimulating gastrointestinal motility and colonic fermentation.[2]
Metabolism
Quercetin is rapidly metabolized (via glucuronidation) after the ingestion of quercetin foods or supplements.[20] Five metabolites (quercetin glucuronides) have been found in human plasma after quercetin ingestion.[21][20] Taken together, the quercetin glucuronides have a half life around 11-12 hours.[20]
In rats, quercetin did not undergo any significant phase I metabolism.[22] In contrast, quercetin did undergo extensive phase II (conjugation) to produce metabolites that are more polar than the parent substance and hence are more rapidly excreted from the body. In vitro, the meta-hydroxyl group of catechol is methylated by catechol-O-methyltransferase. Four of the five hydroxyl groups of quercetin are glucuronidated by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase. The exception is the 5-hydroxyl group of the flavonoid ring which generally does not undergo glucuronidation. The major metabolites of orally absorbed quercetin are quercetin-3-glucuronide, 3'-methylquercetin-3-glucuronide, and quercetin-3'-sulfate.[22] A methyl metabolite of quercetin has been shown in vitro to be more effective than quercetin at inhibiting lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages.[18]
Compared to other flavonoids quercetin is one of the most effective inducers of the phase II detoxification enzymes.[23]
In-vitro studies show that quercetin is a strong inhibitor of the cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 and a moderate inhibitor of CYP2D6.[24][25] Drugs that are metabolized by these pathways may have increased effect. An in-vivo study found that quercetin supplementation slows the metabolism of caffeine to a statistically significant extent in a particular genetic sub-population, but in absolute terms the effect was almost negligible.[26]
Pharmacological research
Quercetin has been reported to inhibit the oxidation of other molecules and hence is classified as an antioxidant in vitro.[16] It contains a polyphenolic chemical substructure that stops oxidation in vitro by acting as a scavenger of free radicals. Quercetin has been shown to inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway leading to downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-w.[27][28] Quercetin activates or inhibits the activities of a number of proteins in vitro. For example, it is a nonspecific protein kinase enzyme inhibitor.[16]
Food safety
In 2010, the FDA acknowledged high-purity quercetin as GRAS for use as an ingredient in various specified food categories at levels up to 500 milligrams per serving.[29]
Health claims
Quercetin has been studied in basic research and small clinical trials.[2][30][31][32] While supplements have been promoted for the treatment of cancer and various other diseases,[2][33] there is no high-quality evidence that quercetin (via supplements or in food) is useful to treat cancer[34] or any other disease.[2][35]
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to several manufacturers advertising on their product labels and websites that quercetin product(s) can be used to treat diseases.[36][37] The FDA regards such quercetin advertising and products as unapproved – with unauthorized health claims concerning the anti-disease products – as defined by "sections 201(g)(1)(B) and/or 201 (g)(1)(C) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1)(B) and/or 21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1)(C)] because they are intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease",[36][37] conditions not met by the manufacturers.
Safety
There has been little research into the safety of quercetin supplementation in humans, and the results are insufficient to give confidence that the practice is safe. In particular, there is a lack of safety information on the effect of quercetin supplementation for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children, and adolescents. The hormonal effects of quercetin found in animal studies raise the suspicion of a parallel effect in humans, particularly in respect of estrogen-dependent tumors.[38]
Quercetin supplementation can interfere with the effects of medications. The precise nature of this interaction is known for some common medicines, but for many, it is not.[38]
See also
- List of ineffective cancer treatments
- Flavonol 3-sulfotransferase
- Phenolic compounds in wine
- Phytochemical
- Quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase
- Quercetin 3-O-methyltransferase
- Quercetin-3-sulfate 3'-sulfotransferase
- Quercetin-3-sulfate 4'-sulfotransferase
- Quercetin-3,3'-bissulfate 7-sulfotransferase
References
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- "Flavonoids". Micronutrient Information Center, Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. November 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
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- "Quercetin". Merriam-Webster.
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- Fischer C, Speth V, Fleig-Eberenz S, Neuhaus G (Oct 1997). "Induction of Zygotic Polyembryos in Wheat: Influence of Auxin Polar Transport". The Plant Cell. 9 (10): 1767–1780. doi:10.1105/tpc.9.10.1767. PMC 157020. PMID 12237347.
- Formica JV, Regelson W (1995). "Review of the biology of quercetin and related bioflavonoids". Food and Chemical Toxicology. 33 (12): 1061–80. doi:10.1016/0278-6915(95)00077-1. PMID 8847003.
- Slimestad R, Fossen T, Vågen IM (December 2007). "Onions: a source of unique dietary flavonoids". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 55 (25): 10067–80. doi:10.1021/jf0712503. PMID 17997520.
- Mitchell AE, Hong YJ, Koh E, Barrett DM, Bryant DE, Denison RF, Kaffka S (Jul 2007). "Ten-year comparison of the influence of organic and conventional crop management practices on the content of flavonoids in tomatoes". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 55 (15): 6154–9. doi:10.1021/jf070344+. PMID 17590007.
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- Juergenliemk G, Boje K, Huewel S, Lohmann C, Galla HJ, Nahrstedt A (Nov 2003). "In vitro studies indicate that miquelianin (quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside) is able to reach the CNS from the small intestine". Planta Medica. 69 (11): 1013–7. doi:10.1055/s-2003-45148. PMID 14735439.
- "Information on EC 3.2.1.66 - quercitrinase". BRENDA (BRaunschweig ENzyme DAtabase). Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research.
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- Williams RJ, Spencer JP, Rice-Evans C (Apr 2004). "Flavonoids: antioxidants or signalling molecules?". (review). Free Radical Biology & Medicine. 36 (7): 838–49. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.01.001. PMID 15019969.
- Barnes S, Prasain J, D'Alessandro T, Arabshahi A, Botting N, Lila MA, Jackson G, Janle EM, Weaver CM (May 2011). "The metabolism and analysis of isoflavones and other dietary polyphenols in foods and biological systems". (review). Food & Function. 2 (5): 235–44. doi:10.1039/c1fo10025d. PMC 4122511. PMID 21779561.
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- Dabeek WM, Marra MV (2019). "Dietary Quercetin and Kaempferol: Bioavailability and Potential Cardiovascular-Related Bioactivity in Humans". Nutrients. 11 (10): 2288. doi:10.3390/nu11102288. PMC 6835347. PMID 31557798.
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- Wittig, Jörg; Herderich, Markus; Graefe, Eva Ulrike; Veit, Markus (April 2001). "Identification of quercetin glucuronides in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry". Journal of Chromatography B: Biomedical Sciences and Applications. 753 (2): 237–243. doi:10.1016/s0378-4347(00)00549-1.
- Day AJ, Rothwell JA, Morgan RA (2004). "Characterization of polyphenol metabolites". In Bao Y, Fenwick R (eds.). Phytochemicals in health and disease. New York, NY: Dekker. pp. 50–67. ISBN 0-8247-4023-8.
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- "Quercetin Significantly Inhibits the Metabolism of Caffeine, a Substrate of Cytochrome P450 1A2 Unrelated to (−2964G>A) and (734C>A) Gene Polymorphisms". www.hindawi.com. doi:10.1155/2014/405071.
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- Ades TB, ed. (2009). Quercetin. American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies (2nd ed.). American Cancer Society. ISBN 9780944235713.
- European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) NDA Panel (Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies) (8 April 2011). "Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to quercetin and protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage (ID 1647), "cardiovascular system" (ID 1844), "mental state and performance" (ID 1845), and "liver, kidneys" (ID 1846) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006". EFSA Journal. 9 (4): 2067–82. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2011.2067. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
- King JL (2 March 2017). "Warning Letter to Cape Fear Naturals". Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, US Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- Pace R (17 April 2017). "Warning Letter to DoctorVicks.com". Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, US Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- Andres S, Pevny S, Ziegenhagen R, Bakhiya N, Schäfer B, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Lampen A (January 2018). "Safety Aspects of the Use of Quercetin as a Dietary Supplement". Mol Nutr Food Res (Review). 62 (1). doi:10.1002/mnfr.201700447. PMID 29127724. S2CID 24772872.
External links
- Media related to Quercetin at Wikimedia Commons