Health Boundaries Bite
Quercetin
6/29/09 - I put yellow onions in my brown rice because I read that
yellow onions are high in quercetin, which is known for its skin
cancer fighting properties.
But, this year by the time I went looking for yellow onion sets they
were sold out. So, I am forced to rely on my Egyptian onions, and I
don't know that they have as much quercetin as yellow onions.
The thing is, tea is loaded with qeurcetin. (I just learned)
yellow onions are high in quercetin, which is known for its skin
cancer fighting properties.
But, this year by the time I went looking for yellow onion sets they
were sold out. So, I am forced to rely on my Egyptian onions, and I
don't know that they have as much quercetin as yellow onions.
The thing is, tea is loaded with qeurcetin. (I just learned)
Quercetin Research
Humans fed fried onions containing quercetin glucosides equivalent
reached a maximum serum concentration 2.9 hours after ingestion.
The half-life of this dose was 16.8 hours, and significant serum
levels were noted up to 48 hours post ingestion.
Absorption and disposition kinetics of the dietary antioxidant
quercetin in man. Hollman PCH, Gaag MVD, Mengelers MJB, et
al. Free Rad Biol Med 1996;21:703-707.
In cultured human melanoma cells, quercetin was found to bind ER
II sites with an affinity similar to tamoxifen anddiethylstilbestrol.
The concentration required for 50-percent growth inhibition for one
cell line was lower for quercetin (7 nM) than for tamoxifen (9 nM),
otherwise the growth inhibitory activity of the two compounds was
similar.
Quercetin induces type-II estrogenbinding sites in estrogen-
receptor-negative and estrogen-receptor-positive human breast
cancer cell lines. Scambia G, Ranelletti FO, Benedetti Panici P, et
al. Int J Cancer 1993;54:462-466.
Quercetin has been found to inhibit production of heat shock
proteins in several malignancies including breast cancer, leukemia,
and colon cancer. Heat shock proteins form a complex with mutant
p53, which allows tumor cells to bypass normal mechanisms
of cell cycle arrest. Heat shock proteins contribute to cancer cells
survive under different bodily stresses (low circulation, fever, etc.),
and are associated with shorter disease free survival and
chemotherapy drug resistance in breast cancer.
Modulation of prostaglandin A1-induced thermotolerance by
quercetin in human leukemic cells: role of heat shock protein Elia
G, Amici C, Rossi A, Santoro MG.
Quercetin, an inhibitor of heat shock protein synthesis, inhibits
the acquisition of thermotolerance in a human colon carcinoma
cell line. Cancer Res 1996;56:210-217.
Heat shock protein hsp70 in patients with axillary lymph node-
negative breast cancer: prognostic implications. Ciocca DR, Clark
GM, Tandon AK, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993;85:570-574.
The small heat shock protein hsp27 is correlated with growth and
drug resistance in human breast cancer cell lines. Oesterreich S,
Weng CN, Qui M, et al. Cancer Res 1993;53:4443-4448.
A human study showed topical and oral administration of quercetin
to reduce skin damage during radiotherapy in patients with head and
neck cancers.
The possibilities of protection against local radiation injuries in
ORL-oncologic patients. Rozenfel’d LG, Abyzov RA, Bozhko GT,
et al. Vestn Otorinolaringol 1990;2:56-58. [Article in Russian]
Human studies have not shown any adverse effects associated with
oral administration of quercetin in a single dose of up to four grams
or after one month of 500 mg twice daily. If quercetin is
administered by the intravenous route, it is advised to check
kidney function on a regular basis.
Quercetin in men with category III chronic prostatitis: a
preliminary prospective, doubleblind, placebo-controlled trial.
Shoskes DA, Zeitlin SI, Shahed A, Rajfer J. Urology 1999;54:960-
963.
Quercetin has a history of use by nutritional physicians as an anti-
inflammatory and anti-allergy agent.
Quercetin (Monograph). Altern Med Rev 1998;3:140-143.
From Cornell, 2004:
From University of South Carolina and Clemson University, 2008
From the Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of
Georgia, and Carbohydrate Research Center:
From University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public
Health.
Humans fed fried onions containing quercetin glucosides equivalent
reached a maximum serum concentration 2.9 hours after ingestion.
The half-life of this dose was 16.8 hours, and significant serum
levels were noted up to 48 hours post ingestion.
Absorption and disposition kinetics of the dietary antioxidant
quercetin in man. Hollman PCH, Gaag MVD, Mengelers MJB, et
al. Free Rad Biol Med 1996;21:703-707.
In cultured human melanoma cells, quercetin was found to bind ER
II sites with an affinity similar to tamoxifen anddiethylstilbestrol.
The concentration required for 50-percent growth inhibition for one
cell line was lower for quercetin (7 nM) than for tamoxifen (9 nM),
otherwise the growth inhibitory activity of the two compounds was
similar.
Quercetin induces type-II estrogenbinding sites in estrogen-
receptor-negative and estrogen-receptor-positive human breast
cancer cell lines. Scambia G, Ranelletti FO, Benedetti Panici P, et
al. Int J Cancer 1993;54:462-466.
Quercetin has been found to inhibit production of heat shock
proteins in several malignancies including breast cancer, leukemia,
and colon cancer. Heat shock proteins form a complex with mutant
p53, which allows tumor cells to bypass normal mechanisms
of cell cycle arrest. Heat shock proteins contribute to cancer cells
survive under different bodily stresses (low circulation, fever, etc.),
and are associated with shorter disease free survival and
chemotherapy drug resistance in breast cancer.
Modulation of prostaglandin A1-induced thermotolerance by
quercetin in human leukemic cells: role of heat shock protein Elia
G, Amici C, Rossi A, Santoro MG.
Quercetin, an inhibitor of heat shock protein synthesis, inhibits
the acquisition of thermotolerance in a human colon carcinoma
cell line. Cancer Res 1996;56:210-217.
Heat shock protein hsp70 in patients with axillary lymph node-
negative breast cancer: prognostic implications. Ciocca DR, Clark
GM, Tandon AK, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993;85:570-574.
The small heat shock protein hsp27 is correlated with growth and
drug resistance in human breast cancer cell lines. Oesterreich S,
Weng CN, Qui M, et al. Cancer Res 1993;53:4443-4448.
A human study showed topical and oral administration of quercetin
to reduce skin damage during radiotherapy in patients with head and
neck cancers.
The possibilities of protection against local radiation injuries in
ORL-oncologic patients. Rozenfel’d LG, Abyzov RA, Bozhko GT,
et al. Vestn Otorinolaringol 1990;2:56-58. [Article in Russian]
Human studies have not shown any adverse effects associated with
oral administration of quercetin in a single dose of up to four grams
or after one month of 500 mg twice daily. If quercetin is
administered by the intravenous route, it is advised to check
kidney function on a regular basis.
Quercetin in men with category III chronic prostatitis: a
preliminary prospective, doubleblind, placebo-controlled trial.
Shoskes DA, Zeitlin SI, Shahed A, Rajfer J. Urology 1999;54:960-
963.
Quercetin has a history of use by nutritional physicians as an anti-
inflammatory and anti-allergy agent.
Quercetin (Monograph). Altern Med Rev 1998;3:140-143.
From Cornell, 2004:
- "Researchers exposed groups of isolated rat brain cells to
varying concentrations of either quercetin or vitamin C. The
cells were then exposed to hydrogen peroxide to simulate the
type of oxidative cell damage that is believed to occur with
Alzheimer's. These results were then compared to brain cells
that were similarly exposed to hydrogen peroxide but were not
pre-treated with antioxidants.
Brain cells that were treated with quercetin had significantly
less damage to both cellular proteins and DNA than the cells
treated with vitamin C and the cells that were not exposed to
antioxidants. This demonstrates quercetin's stronger protective
effect against neurotoxicity, according to the researchers."
Published in the Dec. 1, 2004 issue of the Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a peer-reviewed
publication of the American Chemical Society, the world's
largest scientific society.
From University of South Carolina and Clemson University, 2008
- When researchers gave mice the flu virus along with a dose of
quercetin, the mice were better able to fight off respiratory
infection, especially when their immune systems were put to
the test following a bout of stressful exercise.
"At the end of the 21 day trial, the quercetin-fed "stressed"
mice were 27 percent more likely to be healthy, despite the
exposure to the virus. This study supports previous findings
that suggest including foods containing quercetin, which is a
natural anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory compound, may
be a natural way to help boost the immune system and help
fight off infection."
Study published in the American Journal of Physiology-
Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2008.
From the Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of
Georgia, and Carbohydrate Research Center:
- The effects of quercetin on SW480 human colon
carcinoma cells: a study by Michael F Mouat, Kumar Kolli,
Ronald Orlando, James L Hargrove and Arthur Grider.
- High fruit and vegetable intake is known to reduce the risk of
colon cancer. To improve understanding of this phenomenon
the action of different phytochemicals on colon cells has been
examined. One such compound is quercetin that belongs to
the group known as flavonoids. The purpose of this study was
to determine the influence of quercetin on the proteome of the
SW480 human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, specifically to
identify proteins that could be the molecular targets of
quercetin in its amelioration of the progression of colon cancer.
- Quercetin treatment of the SW480 human colon cancer cells
was found to result in the decreased expression of three
proteins and the increased expression of one protein. The
identified proteins with decreased expression were type II
cytoskeletal 8 keratin and NADH dehydrogenase Fe-S protein
3. The other protein with decreased expression was not
identified. The protein with increased expression belonged to
the annexin family.
- Conclusion: Several proteins were determined to have altered
expression following treatment with quercetin. Such changes
in the levels of these particular proteins could underlie the
chemo-protective action of quercetin towards colon cancer.
From University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public
Health.
- For the study, funded in part by the U.S. Department of
Defense, 12 participants were randomly assigned to one of
two treatments. Half were given 500 mg of quercetin twice a
day in Tang for seven days. The other subjects drank Tang
with placebos. After the seven days of treatment, during
which the subjects were told not to alter their physical activity,
the participants rode stationary bicycles to the point of fatigue.
The participants were healthy, relatively active, college-age
students, but they were not physically trained athletes, and
they were not taking part in a regular exercise training program.
The results: After taking quercetin for only seven days, the
participants had a 13.2 percent increase in endurance and a
3.9 percent increase in VO2max.
“These were statistically significant effects that indicate an
important improvement in endurance capacity in a very short
time,” said Dr. Mark Davis, the study’s lead author.
“Quercetin supplementation was able to mimic some of the
effects of exercise training."
Although the study did not examine why the results were so
dramatic, Davis said pre-clinical data suggest that quercetin
may increase the mitochondria in brain and muscle cells. He
likened the mitochondria to the “powerhouse of the cell,”
producing most of its energy. Mitochondria in brain and
muscle also are believed to be fundamentally important in
battling age-related dementia, obesity, diabetes and
cardiovascular dysfunction.
“One of the most important biological mechanisms for
increasing endurance is increasing the mitochondria,” said
Davis. “More mitochondria in the brain and muscle would
enhance both mental and physical energy, as well as provide a
better ability to fight other diseases in which mitochondrial
dysfunction are hallmarks.”
Quercetin also appears to have valuable properties to fight
inflammation, which has been linked to health problems such
as colon cancer and heart disease. Davis’ research group has
recently received a National Institutes of Health grant to study
quercetin’s effects on colon cancer and others are pending
that involve breast cancer.
The findings of the study are reported in the International
Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism,
published online Wednesday, June 24, 2009.
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| http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com Your fingernails reflect your health -- Learn some warning signs -- Karen Kline |
Fruit/Vegetable/etc.......................Amount in mgs.
Annual saw-thistle leaves...............
Apple cider (European)...................
Apple juice, unsweetened................
Apple, skin only ...................
Apple, with skin ............................
Apple, without skin.........................
Applesauce, canned, unsweetened ..
Apricots.........................................
Apricots, canned.............................
Beans, broadbeans, canned..............
Beans, broadbeans, raw...................
Beans, green snap, canned...............
Beans, green snap, frozen................
Beans, green snap, frozen, cooked...
Beans, green snap, raw...................
Beans, yellow snap..........................
Bee Pollen............................
Beets, raw......................................
Bilberries........................................
Blackberries, raw............................
Blackberry juice concentrate . ..
Blood orange juice, raw...................
Blueberries, frozen..........................
Blueberries, raw.............................
Bog whortleberries, wild, frozen......
Broccoli.........................................
Broccoli, cooked.............................
Brussels sprouts, raw......................
Buckwheat ...........................
Buckwheat, bran .................. .
Capers, canned ...................
Capers, raw........................
Carob fiber ..........................
Carob flour ...........................
Catsup...........................................
Celery, raw.....................................
Cherries, sweet, canned...................
Cherried, sweet, raw.......................
Chives............................................
Chokeberries, frozen.......................
Chokeberry juice concentrate..
Cocoa, powder, unsweetened...... .
Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw ....
Cowpeas, (blackeyed) raw .....
Cranberries, raw ....................
Cranberry juice, raw ..............
Cranberry juice cocktail...................
Currants, black raw.........................
Currants, black, juice.......................
Currants, white..............................
Dill weed, fresh .....................
Dock leaves, raw ...................
Dock, raw............................
Elderberry juice concentrate
Elderberries, raw ...................
Fennel, leaves, raw ...............
Gooseberries.................................
Grapes...........................................
Grapes, Black.................................
Grape juice, canned, unsweetened...
Grapes, white or green.....................
Greek greens pie, from wild greens..
Hartwort leaves.............................
Kale, raw.......................................
Lettuce, butterhead, Boston, bib.......
Lettuce, Iceberg..............................
Lingonberries................................
Lovage, leaves, raw ............
Okra, raw ............................
Onions, cooked, without salt ..
Onions, raw ........................ ..
Onions, red, raw ................. ..
Onions, spring/scallions, raw ..
Onions, sweet white, raw .........
Orange juice, raw.............................
Parsley, raw...................................
Parsnips, raw................................
Peach jam......................................
Pears, with skin, raw.......................
Peas, green, raw .....................
Peas, green snap.............................
Peppers, ancho ......................
Peppers, hot, yellow wax, raw ..
Peppers, Jalapeno...........................
Pepper, serrano, raw ........... ..
Peppers, hot chili, green...........
Pepppers, sweet, green, raw..............
Plums, raw......................................
Queen Anne's Lace, leaves, raw........
Radish leaves, raw ............... ..
Raspberries, raw.............................
Rowanberries...................................
Spaghetti marinara, ready to serve.....
Spinach, raw....................................
Strawberries, frozen, unsweetened.....
Strawberries, raw.............................
Sweetpotato leaves, raw..................
Tarragon, fresh..............................
Tea leaves, black, decaffeinated .
Tea leaves, black, dry..........
Tea leaves, green, decaffeinated
Tea leaves, green, dry ..........
Tea leaves, oolong, dry ....... .
Tomatoes, Cherry...........................
Tomatoes, juice...............................
Watercress......................................
Wine, berry, colored.......................
Wine, berry, white.........................
Wine, red table wine........................
Wine, sherry...................................
Wine, white table wine....................
Taken from the USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content
of Selected Foods Prepared by the Nutrient Data Laboratory
Food Composition Laboratory Beltsville Human Nutrition
Research Center Agricultural Research
My one question is: how can cooked onions have more quercetin
than raw onions? Is it because more onion fits into the same size
container?
Annual saw-thistle leaves...............
Apple cider (European)...................
Apple juice, unsweetened................
Apple, skin only ...................
Apple, with skin ............................
Apple, without skin.........................
Applesauce, canned, unsweetened ..
Apricots.........................................
Apricots, canned.............................
Beans, broadbeans, canned..............
Beans, broadbeans, raw...................
Beans, green snap, canned...............
Beans, green snap, frozen................
Beans, green snap, frozen, cooked...
Beans, green snap, raw...................
Beans, yellow snap..........................
Bee Pollen............................
Beets, raw......................................
Bilberries........................................
Blackberries, raw............................
Blackberry juice concentrate . ..
Blood orange juice, raw...................
Blueberries, frozen..........................
Blueberries, raw.............................
Bog whortleberries, wild, frozen......
Broccoli.........................................
Broccoli, cooked.............................
Brussels sprouts, raw......................
Buckwheat ...........................
Buckwheat, bran .................. .
Capers, canned ...................
Capers, raw........................
Carob fiber ..........................
Carob flour ...........................
Catsup...........................................
Celery, raw.....................................
Cherries, sweet, canned...................
Cherried, sweet, raw.......................
Chives............................................
Chokeberries, frozen.......................
Chokeberry juice concentrate..
Cocoa, powder, unsweetened...... .
Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw ....
Cowpeas, (blackeyed) raw .....
Cranberries, raw ....................
Cranberry juice, raw ..............
Cranberry juice cocktail...................
Currants, black raw.........................
Currants, black, juice.......................
Currants, white..............................
Dill weed, fresh .....................
Dock leaves, raw ...................
Dock, raw............................
Elderberry juice concentrate
Elderberries, raw ...................
Fennel, leaves, raw ...............
Gooseberries.................................
Grapes...........................................
Grapes, Black.................................
Grape juice, canned, unsweetened...
Grapes, white or green.....................
Greek greens pie, from wild greens..
Hartwort leaves.............................
Kale, raw.......................................
Lettuce, butterhead, Boston, bib.......
Lettuce, Iceberg..............................
Lingonberries................................
Lovage, leaves, raw ............
Okra, raw ............................
Onions, cooked, without salt ..
Onions, raw ........................ ..
Onions, red, raw ................. ..
Onions, spring/scallions, raw ..
Onions, sweet white, raw .........
Orange juice, raw.............................
Parsley, raw...................................
Parsnips, raw................................
Peach jam......................................
Pears, with skin, raw.......................
Peas, green, raw .....................
Peas, green snap.............................
Peppers, ancho ......................
Peppers, hot, yellow wax, raw ..
Peppers, Jalapeno...........................
Pepper, serrano, raw ........... ..
Peppers, hot chili, green...........
Pepppers, sweet, green, raw..............
Plums, raw......................................
Queen Anne's Lace, leaves, raw........
Radish leaves, raw ............... ..
Raspberries, raw.............................
Rowanberries...................................
Spaghetti marinara, ready to serve.....
Spinach, raw....................................
Strawberries, frozen, unsweetened.....
Strawberries, raw.............................
Sweetpotato leaves, raw..................
Tarragon, fresh..............................
Tea leaves, black, decaffeinated .
Tea leaves, black, dry..........
Tea leaves, green, decaffeinated
Tea leaves, green, dry ..........
Tea leaves, oolong, dry ....... .
Tomatoes, Cherry...........................
Tomatoes, juice...............................
Watercress......................................
Wine, berry, colored.......................
Wine, berry, white.........................
Wine, red table wine........................
Wine, sherry...................................
Wine, white table wine....................
Taken from the USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content
of Selected Foods Prepared by the Nutrient Data Laboratory
Food Composition Laboratory Beltsville Human Nutrition
Research Center Agricultural Research
My one question is: how can cooked onions have more quercetin
than raw onions? Is it because more onion fits into the same size
container?
016.00
000.48
000.34
019.36
004.42
001.50
002.00
002.55
000.00
000.55
002.00
001.49
001.30
001.25
002.73
003.03
020.95
000.13
003.04
001.03
022.85
000.00
003.93
003.11
017.70
003.21
001.06
000.30
023.09
014.90
180.77
233.84
058.13
038.78
000.86
003.50
003.20
001.25
004.77
008.90
068.17
020.13
005.00
017.22
014.02
016.41
001.13
005.69
001.15
001.95
055.15
086.20
086.02
108.16
042.00
048.80
002.00
004.54
002.54
000.41
000.87
012.40
029.30
007.71
001.19
002.47
012.16
170.00
024.26
019.36
013.27
019.93
014.24
005.19
000.19
000.33
000.99
000.32
000.42
000.00
002.73
027.60
050.63
005.07
015.98
016.80
000.65
001.20
001.10
070.37
000.83
007.40
000.91
004.86
000.44
000.65
020.54
010.00
256.02
204.66
263.95
255.55
108.83
002.77
001.46
004.00
000.63
000.20
000.84
000.01
000.04
000.48
000.34
019.36
004.42
001.50
002.00
002.55
000.00
000.55
002.00
001.49
001.30
001.25
002.73
003.03
020.95
000.13
003.04
001.03
022.85
000.00
003.93
003.11
017.70
003.21
001.06
000.30
023.09
014.90
180.77
233.84
058.13
038.78
000.86
003.50
003.20
001.25
004.77
008.90
068.17
020.13
005.00
017.22
014.02
016.41
001.13
005.69
001.15
001.95
055.15
086.20
086.02
108.16
042.00
048.80
002.00
004.54
002.54
000.41
000.87
012.40
029.30
007.71
001.19
002.47
012.16
170.00
024.26
019.36
013.27
019.93
014.24
005.19
000.19
000.33
000.99
000.32
000.42
000.00
002.73
027.60
050.63
005.07
015.98
016.80
000.65
001.20
001.10
070.37
000.83
007.40
000.91
004.86
000.44
000.65
020.54
010.00
256.02
204.66
263.95
255.55
108.83
002.77
001.46
004.00
000.63
000.20
000.84
000.01
000.04
Foods Containing Quercetin
Capers are unripened
flower buds of Capparis
spinosa, a prickly,
perennial plant native to
the Mediterranean and
parts of Asia. They are
mentioned as a food in
the ancient Sumerian
cuneiform Gilgamesh.
flower buds of Capparis
spinosa, a prickly,
perennial plant native to
the Mediterranean and
parts of Asia. They are
mentioned as a food in
the ancient Sumerian
cuneiform Gilgamesh.
