Quercetin is a polyphenol that is widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom. It has been shown to act as an antioxidant and can help support a healthy immune system.
Quercetin can also inhibit tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), a potent inducer of inflammation. It blocks TNF-a from directly activating ERK, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and NF-kB pathways, critical components in inflammatory cascades.
Antioxidant
Quercetin is a flavonoid that works as an antioxidant, helping to neutralize free radicals and reducing oxidative stress on the body. This is important for maintaining a healthy immune system and overall well-being.
As a flavonoid, quercetin is also known to have antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. It can inhibit RNA (influenza and coronavirus) and DNA viruses, reducing symptoms of infection, including coughing, fever and inflammation.
This antioxidant benefits allergy sufferers by stabilizing mast cells, which can decrease the release of histamine. It also has several other beneficial effects, such as improving cardiovascular health and supporting the gastrointestinal tract.
It has also been shown to reduce cellular senescence, malfunctioning cells that have stopped dividing but do not die and remain in the body. Senescent cells are associated with cellular aging and age-related disorders and can cause health concerns such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
Anti-Inflammatory
As an antioxidant, quercetin prevents free radical production that can damage cells and cause oxidative stress. It also helps maintain a healthy inflammatory response to support overall health and well-being.
Before taking it, you should understand what is quercetin phytosome. Quercetin inhibits inflammatory gene expression and TNF-a, IL-1 and IL-6 secretion in cellular models of inflammation. This inhibition is achieved by blocking TNF-a’s ability to directly activate extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB).
In addition, it suppresses the IL-17-mediated proliferation of CD14+ monocytes in vitro and reduces the migration and invasion of osteoclasts in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cells. It also decreases IL-17-induced receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) levels in RA-FLSs.
Using a three-dimensional co-culture model, researchers can study the effects of quercetin on multiple cells that can help identify potential targets for anti-inflammatory therapy in RA and other diseases. These studies can use synovial fibroblast cells, osteoclasts, and intestinal epithelial cells. They also provide a more bioavailable and target-specific approach to studying the effects of quercetin on disease progression. This can be particularly beneficial for treating autoimmune diseases such as IBD and RA.
Anti-Alzheimer’s
As a flavonoid, quercetin has been shown to help protect your immune system from harmful oxidative stress and inflammation and support cardiovascular health. Studies have also shown that it helps maintain the integrity of collagen, essential for maintaining connective tissue and blood vessel health.
During a viral infection, quercetin blocks the virus from replicating its genome and entering cells. This is accomplished by inhibiting polymerases and proteases responsible for virus replication and entry. It also binds to viral capsid proteins, which protect RNA and DNA and are used by viruses to penetrate the cell membrane.
In addition to its antiviral activity, quercetin also inhibits TNF-a-mediated inflammation. This is done by blocking ERK, JNK, NF-kB and PPARg activity, which all act as molecular gates that allow TNF-a to induce inflammatory gene expression and protein secretion.
This makes it an ideal supplement to take during a viral infection or even when you risk developing an autoimmune disease. Moreover, it may also help you manage cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s.
Anti-Cancer
In addition to its anti-cancer properties, quercetin has also been found to have immune-supporting benefits. As a powerful antioxidant, it helps combat free radicals that fuel inflammation and chronic disease. It can also protect the brain from oxidative stress, support mitochondrial biogenesis, or produce new cells to replace worn-out ones.
This makes it ideal for boosting immunity and fighting off infections, from herpes to the common cold. In vitro, studies have shown that it can regulate the Th1/Th2 immune response and boost the body’s ability to fight pathogens and inflammatory reactions.
Researchers have also found that quercetin can prevent several cancers by targeting specific signaling pathways. It has been shown to inhibit the Wnt/b-catenin pathway, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway, Janus kinase/signal transducer and transcription activator (STAT) signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and p53 signaling.
Quercetin has also been shown to promote apoptosis in various cancer types and cell lines. It inhibits cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity, encourages the expression of p53, Bax and caspase-3, and stimulates the release of cytochrome-c from mitochondria.
Anti-Aging
Quercetin is a flavonoid (plant pigment that gives fruits and vegetables their color) that does more than color our food; it fights free radicals that can cause damage to cells, accelerated aging, and chronic health conditions. This nutrient helps keep you healthy, and new research shows that quercetin is also a senolytic – a substance that clears worn-out cells in the body called senescent cells, which are harmful to health and can even decrease lifespan.
In addition to strengthening the immune system, quercetin also bolsters respiratory health. Studies have shown that it can promote recovery from seasonal allergies or hives and help maintain a healthy inflammatory response in the respiratory tract.
To maximize quercetin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, it is combined with a phospholipid-based delivery system known as phytosome. This technology ensures that the body readily recognizes the nutrient and delivers it where it most needs it. This enhanced bioavailability makes it more effective and accessible for the body.
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