title: Antioxidative and prooxidative effects of quercetin on A549 cells.
abstract: Quercetin, a common plant polyphenol, has been reported to show both antioxidant and prooxidant properties. We studied the effects of quercetin on A549 cells in in vitro culture. We found that low concentrations of the flavonoid stimulated cell proliferation and increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the cells; while higher concentrations of the flavonoid decreased cell survival and viability, thiol content, TAC and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase. Quercetin decreased production of reactive oxygen species in the cells but produced peroxides in the medium. The cellular effects of quercetin are therefore complex and include both antioxidant effects and induction of oxidative stress due to formation of reactive oxygen species in the extracellular medium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biophysics, University of Łódź, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, Poland. mimius@interia.pl
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robaszkiewicz
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balcerczyk
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bartosz
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D011794:Quercetin; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase