QUERCETIN

Quercetin belongs to a group of water-soluble pigments known as flavonoids. Quercetin is a member of the class of flavonoids called flavonols. It is widely distributed in the plant kingdom in rinds and barks and can be found in onions, red wine, green tea and st. john's wort.

Potential benefits of quercetin include:

• Quercentin is an antioxidant, and thus may help fight cell-damaging free radicals.
  
  
• Studies suggest that it may have anti-cancer effects, help prevent heart disease by reducing the oxidation of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, and act as an antihistamine. Specifically, it may help alleviate prostate cancer by blocking male hormones that encourage the growth of prostate cancer cells, according to preliminary laboratory research at the Mayo Clinic. In another study, men with an inflamed prostate (prostatitis) reported reduced urinary symptoms when they took quercetin.
  
  
• Population studies have found that people with high intakes of foods containing quercetin and other flavonoids tend to have lower rates of heart disease and lung cancer.
  
  
• Several studies have linked a high intake of apples (rich in quercetin and other flavonoids) with improved lung function and a lower risk of certain respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.
  
  
• Quercetin blocks an enzyme that leads to accumulation of sorbitol which has been linked to nerve, eye, and kidney damage in those with diabetes. However, no human research has demonstrated these actions of quercetin in people with diabetes patients.