The Pharmacological Activity, Biochemical Properties, and Pharmacokinetics of the Major Natural Polyphenolic Flavonoid: Quercetin

doi:10.3390/foods9030374

Review

. 2020 Mar 23;9(3):374.

doi: 10.3390/foods9030374.

The Pharmacological Activity, Biochemical Properties, and Pharmacokinetics of the Major Natural Polyphenolic Flavonoid: Quercetin

Gaber El-Saber Batiha^{1

2}, Amany Magdy Beshbishy¹, Muhammad Ikram³, Zohair S Mulla⁴, Mohamed E Abd El-Hack⁵, Ayman E Taha⁶, Abdelazeem M Algammal⁷, Yaser Hosny Ali Elewa^{8

9}

Affiliations

¹ National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-13, Inada-cho, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan.
² Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, Egypt.
³ Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Poultry, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt.
⁶ Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Edfina 22758, Egypt.
⁷ Department of Bacteriology, Immunology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt.
⁸ Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt.
⁹ Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.

PMID: 32210182
PMCID: PMC7143931
DOI: 10.3390/foods9030374

Review

The Pharmacological Activity, Biochemical Properties, and Pharmacokinetics of the Major Natural Polyphenolic Flavonoid: Quercetin

Gaber El-Saber Batiha et al. Foods. 2020.

. 2020 Mar 23;9(3):374.

doi: 10.3390/foods9030374.

Authors

Gaber El-Saber Batiha^{1

2}, Amany Magdy Beshbishy¹, Muhammad Ikram³, Zohair S Mulla⁴, Mohamed E Abd El-Hack⁵, Ayman E Taha⁶, Abdelazeem M Algammal⁷, Yaser Hosny Ali Elewa^{8

9}

Affiliations

¹ National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-13, Inada-cho, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan.
² Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, Egypt.
³ Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Poultry, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt.
⁶ Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Edfina 22758, Egypt.
⁷ Department of Bacteriology, Immunology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt.
⁸ Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt.
⁹ Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.

PMID: 32210182
PMCID: PMC7143931
DOI: 10.3390/foods9030374

Abstract

Flavonoids are a class of natural substances present in plants, fruits, vegetables, wine, bulbs, bark, stems, roots, and tea. Several attempts are being made to isolate such natural products, which are popular for their health benefits. Flavonoids are now seen as an essential component in a number of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and medicinal formulations. Quercetin is the major polyphenolic flavonoid found in food products, including berries, apples, cauliflower, tea, cabbage, nuts, and onions that have traditionally been treated as anticancer and antiviral, and used for the treatment of allergic, metabolic, and inflammatory disorders, eye and cardiovascular diseases, and arthritis. Pharmacologically, quercetin has been examined against various microorganisms and parasites, including pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and Plasmodium, Babesia, and Theileria parasites. Additionally, it has shown beneficial effects against Alzheimer's disease (AD), and this activity is due to its inhibitory effect against acetylcholinesterase. It has also been documented to possess antioxidant, antifungal, anti-carcinogenic, hepatoprotective, and cytotoxic activity. Quercetin has been documented to accumulate in the lungs, liver, kidneys, and small intestines, with lower levels seen in the brain, heart, and spleen, and it is extracted through the renal, fecal, and respiratory systems. The current review examines the pharmacokinetics, as well as the toxic and biological activities of quercetin.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; herbal remedies; pharmacokinetics; pharmacological activities; quercetin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Quercetin’s chemical structure.

**Figure 2**
The pharmacological activity of quercetin.

**Figure 3**
Quercetin formulations for improving its bioavailability.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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[1] Batiha G.-S., Beshbishy A.M., Adeyemi O.S., Nadwa E.H., Rashwan E.M., Alkazmi L.M., Elkelish A.A., Igarashi I. Phytochemical screening and antiprotozoal effects of the methanolic Berberis vulgaris and acetonic Rhus coriaria extracts. Molecules. 2020;25:550. doi: 10.3390/molecules25030550. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Batiha G.-S., Beshbishy A.M., Adeyemi O.S., Nadwa E.H., Rashwan E.M., Alkazmi L.M., Elkelish A.A., Igarashi I. Phytochemical screening and antiprotozoal effects of the methanolic Berberis vulgaris and acetonic Rhus coriaria extracts. Molecules. 2020;25:550. doi: 10.3390/molecules25030550. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Batiha G.-S., Alkazmi L.M., Wasef L.G., Beshbishy A.M., Nadwa E.H., Rashwan E.K. Syzygium aromaticum L. (Myrtaceae): Traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents, pharmacological and toxicological activities. Biomolecules. 2020;10:202. doi: 10.3390/biom10020202. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Batiha G.-S., Alkazmi L.M., Wasef L.G., Beshbishy A.M., Nadwa E.H., Rashwan E.K. Syzygium aromaticum L. (Myrtaceae): Traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents, pharmacological and toxicological activities. Biomolecules. 2020;10:202. doi: 10.3390/biom10020202. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Shakya A.K. Medicinal plants: Future source of new drugs. Int. J. Herb. Med. IJHM. 2016;59:59–64.

[6] Shakya A.K. Medicinal plants: Future source of new drugs. Int. J. Herb. Med. IJHM. 2016;59:59–64.

[7] Bakkali F., Averbeck S., Averbeck D., Idaomar M. Biological effects of essential oils—A review. Food Chem. Toxicol. 2008;46:446–475. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2007.09.106. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Bakkali F., Averbeck S., Averbeck D., Idaomar M. Biological effects of essential oils—A review. Food Chem. Toxicol. 2008;46:446–475. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2007.09.106. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Ríos J.L., Recio M.C. Medicinal plants and antimicrobial activity. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005;100:80–84. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.04.025. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Ríos J.L., Recio M.C. Medicinal plants and antimicrobial activity. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005;100:80–84. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.04.025. - DOI - PubMed

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The Pharmacological Activity, Biochemical Properties, and Pharmacokinetics of the Major Natural Polyphenolic Flavonoid: Quercetin

Affiliations

The Pharmacological Activity, Biochemical Properties, and Pharmacokinetics of the Major Natural Polyphenolic Flavonoid: Quercetin

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

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References

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