Free Radic Res. 2003 Nov;37(11):1245-52. Links
Reversal of aging and chronic ethanol-induced cognitive dysfunction by
quercetin a bioflavonoid.
Singh A, Naidu PS, Kulkarni SK.
Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab
University, Chandigarh-160014, India.
Cognitive dysfunction, one of the most striking age-related impairments seen in
human beings, has been correlated to the vulnerability of the brain to
increased oxidative stress during aging process. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid
with strong antioxidant properties. Experiments were performed to study the
possible effects of quercetin on cognitive performance of young, aged or
ethanol-intoxicated mice (an animal model for cognition dysfunction) using one
trail step down type of passive avoidance and elevated plus maze tasks,
respectively. Aged or chronic ethanol-treated mice showed poor retention of
memory in step-down passive avoidance and in elevated plus-maze task. Chronic
administration of quercetin (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg) for 30 days or its
co-administration with ethanol (15% w/v, 2g/kg per orally) for 24 days
significantly reversed the age-related or chronic ethanol-induced retention
deficits in both the test paradigms. However, in both memory paradigms chronic
administration of quercetin failed to modulate the retention performance of
young mice. Chronic quercetin administration for 30 days also reversed age
associated increase in TBARS levels and decline in forebrain total glutathione
(GSH), SOD and catalase levels. Chronic ethanol administration to young mice
produced an increase in lipid peroxidation, and a decline in forebrain total
glutathione (GSH), SOD and catalase levels, which was significantly reversed by
the co-administration of quercetin (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg). The results of the
present study showed that chronic quercetin treatment reverses cognitive
deficits in aged and ethanol-intoxicated mice, which is associated with its
antioxidant property.
PMID: 14703737 [PubMed - in process]
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doe - 06 Jan 2004 14:10 GMT
>Subject: Quercetin treatment reverses cognitive deficits
Free Radic Biol Med. 2002 Jul 1;33(1):63-70.
http://www.elsevier.nl/febs/80/17/15/index.htt
Protection against oxidative damage of erythrocyte membrane by the flavonoid
quercetin and its relation to iron chelating activity
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Quercetin metabolism in the lens: role in inhibition of hydrogen
peroxide induced cataract.
Cornish KM, Williamson G, Sanderson J.
School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich,
Norfolk, UK.
Oxidative stress is implicated in the initiation of maturity onset
cataract. Quercetin, a major flavonol in the diet, inhibits lens
opacification in a lens organ culture oxidative model of cataract.
The aim of this research was to investigate the metabolism of
quercetin in the lens and show how its metabolism affects the ability
to prevent oxidation-induced opacity. The LOCH model (Free Radical
Biology & Medicine 26:639; 1999) was employed, using rat lenses to
investigate the effects of quercetin and metabolites on hydrogen
peroxide-induced opacification. High-performance liquid
chromatography analysis showed that the intact rat lens is capable of
converting quercetin aglycone to 3'-O-methyl quercetin
(isorhamnetin). Over a 6 h culture period no further metabolism of
the 3'-O-methyl quercetin occurred. Loss of quercetin in the lens was
accounted for by the increase in 3'-O-methyl quercetin. Incubation
with 3,5-dinitrocatechol (10 microM), a catechol-O-methyltransferase
(COMT) inhibitor, prevented the conversion of quercetin to 3'-O-
methyl quercetin. The presence of both membrane-bound and soluble
COMT was confirmed by immunoblotting. The results demonstrate that in
the rat lens COMT methylates quercetin and that the product
accumulates within the lens. Quercetin (10 microM) and 3'-O-methyl
quercetin (10 microM) both inhibited hydrogen peroxide- (500 microM)
induced sodium and calcium influx and lens opacification. Incubation
of lenses with quercetin in the presence of COMT inhibitor revealed
that the efficacy of quercetin is not dependent on its metabolism to
3'-O-methyl quercetin. The results indicate dietary quercetin and
metabolites are active in inhibiting oxidative damage in the lens and
thus could play a role in prevention of cataract formation.
PMID: 12086683 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
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William A. Noyes - 13 Jan 2004 09:07 GMT
I thought it inhibited the formation of cataracts by inhibiting
aldol reductase and thereby reducing sorbitol levels in the
lens.
> >Subject: Quercetin treatment reverses cognitive deficits
>
[quoted text clipped - 50 lines]
> Man Is A Herbivore! http://pages.ivillage.com/ironjustice/manisaherbivore
> DEAD PEOPLE WALKING http://pages.ivillage.com/ironjustice/deadpeoplewalking