QUERCETIN As A Medicine

QUERCETIN As A Medicine

OTHER NAME(S):

Pentahydroxyflavone, Bioflavonoid, Bioflavonoid Complex, Bioflavonoid Concentrate, Bioflavonoid Extract, Bioflavonoïde, Bioflavonoïde de Citron, Bioflavonoïdes de Citron, Citrus Bioflavones, Citrus Bioflavonoid, Citrus Bioflavonoids, Citrus Bioflavonoid Extract, Citrus Flavones, Citrus Flavonoids, Complexe de Bioflavonoïde, Concentré de Bioflavonoïde, Extrait de Bioflavonoïde, Extrait de Bioflavonoïdes de Citron, Flavones de Citron, Flavonoid, Flavonoïde, Meletin, Mélétine, Quercetina, Quercétine, Sophretin, Sophrétine.

Overview Information

Quercetin (flavonoid) is a pigment of the plant. It can be found in many plants and foods such as red wine, onions, green tea, apples, berries, ginkgo biloba, St. John’s wort, American elder, and others. Buckwheat tea contains a great quercetin content. Individuals are using quercetin as a drug.

Quercetine is most commonly taken in the mouth for heart and blood vessel conditions and cancer prevention. It is also used for arthritis, bladder and diabetes. There is, however, limited scientific evidence to support these applications.

How does it work?

Quercetin has antioxidant and non-inflammatory effects that can reduce inflammation, kill cancer cells, control sugar in the blood and prevent cardiac diseases.

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Ineffective for

• Performance of exercise. Taking quercetine does not seem to improve fatigue, reduce muscle soreness, or decrease swelling before exercise.

Insufficient Evidence for

• Autism. Early research has shown that taking quercetin and other ingredients in a product might improve behavior and social interactions in children with autism.
• Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). Early research shows that taking saw-containing quercetin, beta-sitosterol, and palmetto does not help urination and other symptoms in men with BPH.
• Heart disease. Some research suggests that eating quercetin-rich foods such as tea, onions, but also apples can reduce the risk of death from heart disease for elderly men. However, taking a daily quercetin supplement in healthy people does not seem to improve risk factors for heart disease.
• Diabetes. Early research shows that adding quercetin, myricetine and chlorogenic acid in people with diabetes who do not take antidiabetes medicines helps to reduce blood sugar. It also appears that taking the same combination benefits people with diabetes who are already taking metformin.
• Exercise-induced respiratory infections. Early research shows that the risk of upper respiratory infection after heavy exercise is reduced by taking quercetine.
• High cholesterol. Short-term quercetin use does not appear to reduce “bad cholesterol” (LDL) or total cholesterol, or to increase “good cholesterol” (HDL) cholesterol. Most studies, however, were small and included people without high cholesterol. It’s not clear whether quercetin would only benefit people with high cholesterol.
• High blood pressure. Early research suggests that in people with untreated, moderately high blood pressure, the use of quercetin results in a small drop in blood pressure. It is unclear whether this blood pressure reduction is clinically significant.
• Kidney transplantation. Some research suggests that taking quercetin and curcumin container within 24 hours of kidney transplantation will improve the early function of the transplanted kidney in combination with antirejection medicines.
• Lung cancer. Higher quercetine intake in people who smoke in their diet is associated with a lower risk of lung cancer.
• Inflamed mouth sores (oral mucositis). Early research suggests that quercetin does not prevent mouth disease caused by cancer medication.
• Ovarian cancer. There was no link between dietary intake of Quercetin and the chance of ovarian cancer in a population study.
• Pancreatic cancer. Some research shows that eating high quercetin in your diet may reduce the likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer, especially in men who smoke.
• An ovary disorder known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Research has shown that in women with PCOS, taking quercetine increases hormone levels. It also appears to improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin. However, it is not clear whether these changes lead to improvements in PCOS symptoms such as periods of irregularity.
• Prostate pain and swelling (inflammation). Taking quercetine by mouth appears to decrease pain and improve the quality of life, but it does not appear in men with ongoing prostate conditions that are not caused by infection to help with urination problems.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Research has shown that quercetin in women with RA reduces pain and stiffness. But it does not seem to reduce the number of swollen or tender joints.
• Painful urination due to problems with the urethra (urethral syndrome). Early research shows that taking a product containing quercetin, bromelain, chondroitin sulfate, cola, rhodiola, and barbed skullcap reduces the urination of people with urothral syndrome.
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs). The early research suggests that the use of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulphate, curcumin and quercetin in your mouth as well as estrogen in the vagina can help prevent UTIs in women who often get them. The quercetin product works without, but not without the estrogen.
• Asthma.
• Cataracts.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
• Gout.
• Viral infections.
• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis).
• Schizophrenia.
• “Hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis).
• Pain and swelling (inflammation).
• Stomach and intestinal ulcers.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to evaluate the use of quercetin.

Side Effects & Safety

For most people, when taken by mouth shortly, Quercetin is POSSIBLY safe. Quercetin has been used safely in quantities of up to 500 mg twice daily for 12 weeks. Long-term or higher doses are not known to be safe.

Taking Quercetine in the mouth may cause headache and tingling of arms and legs. Very high doses might damage the kidney.

Quercetin is POSSIBLY SAFE when given intravenously (by IV) in an appropriate amount (less than 722 mg). Side effects in the injection site may include flushing, pulling, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and pain. However, larger amounts given by IV are UNSAFE POSSIBLE. Higher doses of kidney damage have been reported.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding : The use of quercetine during pregnancy and breast-feeding is not enough known. Stay safe and avoid using.

Kidney problems : Quercetin could worsen kidney problems. Do not use quercetin if you have problems with the kidneys.

• Interactions
• Moderate Interaction
• Be cautious with this combination

Antibiotics (Quinolone antibiotics) interacts with QUERCETIN

Taking quercetin together with certain antibiotics may reduce the efficacy of certain antibiotics. Some scientists believe queercetin may prevent the killing of bacteria by some antibiotics. But it’s too early to know whether it’s a big concern.
>Ciprofloxacin (Penetrex), norfloxacin (Chibroxin, Noroxin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), trovafloxacin (Trovan), and grepafloxacin (Raxar) are amongst the antibiotics which may interact with quercetin.

Cyclosporin (Neoral, Sandimmune) interacts with QUERCETIN

Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) is changed and the liver is broken down. Quercetin may decrease how rapidly cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) breaks down in the liver. Quercetin may increase this medicine’s effects and side effects. Talk to your health care provider before taking quercetin if you are taking cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune).

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) substrates) interacts with QUERCETIN

Some medicines are altered and the liver breaks down. Quercetin may decrease the speed with which certain medicines break down in the liver. Taking quercetine with these liver-changing medicines may increase the effects and side effects of your medication. Talk to your health care provider before taking quercetin if you use any liver-changed medications.

Paclitaxel (Taxol), rosiglitazine (Avandia), amiosdarone (Cordarone), docetaxel (Taxotere), repaglinide (Prandin), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan) and others are included in certain liver-changed medications.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates) interacts with QUERCETIN

Some medicines are changed and the liver breaks down. Quercetin may decrease the breakdown of some medications by the liver. Taking quercetin together with these liver-changed medications could increase your medication’s effects and side effects. Some medicines that have been changed by liver include celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), fluvastatin (Lescol), glipizide (Glucotrol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), phenytoin (Dilantin), piroxicam (Feldene), tamoxifen (Nolviadex), etc.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates) interacts with QUERCETIN

Some medicines are changed and the liver breaks down. Quercetin may decrease how fast some medicines break down in the liver. Taking quercetine together with these liver-changing drugs may increase your medication’s effects and side effects. Some medications modified by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), codeine, flecainide (Tambocor), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), metoproliol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), ondansetron (Zofran), paroxetine (Paxil), risperidone (Risperdal), tramadol (Ultram), etc..), etc.

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with QUERCETIN

Some medicines are altered and split in the liver. Quercetin may decrease how quickly some medications break the liver. Taking quercetin with these liver-changing medications could improve your medication’s effects and side effects. Some of the medications which are altered by liver include lovastatin (Mevacor), clarithromycin (Biaxin), cyclosporin (Neoral, Sandimmune), diltiazem (Cardizem), esrogens, indinavir (Crixivan), triazolam (Halción), vapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), alfentanil (Alfenta), fentaine. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking Quercetine if you take any liver altered medicines.

Medications moved by pumps in cells (P-glycoprotein Substrates)) interacts with QUERCETIN

Some medicines are transported by cell pumps. Quercetin may lower these pumps and improve the body’s medicines absorption. Some medications that are moved by this type of pump may include diltiazem (Cardizem) and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), digoxins (Lanoxin) cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), saquinavir (Invirase), amprenavir (Agenerase), loperamide (Imodium) and other medicines. This may cause some medications to have more side effects.

Dosing

The proper quercetine dose depends on several factors, such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. There is not enough scientific information currently available to determine an adequate range of doses of quercetin. Note that natural products may not always be safe and important dosages. Be sure to follow the appropriate instructions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician before using.