Modification of membranes by quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, via its incorporation in the polar head group.
Quercetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid that has a lot of beneficial properties to human health. In this report, using the spin label technique, the influence of quercetin on the fluidity of multilamellar DPPC liposomes was studied. The polarity of the environment preferred by quercetin was also examined by determining the dependence of the position of electronic absorption maxima on dielectric properties of different environments. Autofluorescence of quercetin was also used to examine its distribution in cells. An additional aim of the study was to find how quercetin presence affects human skin fibroblasts. The results showed that incorporation of quercetin at physiological pH into DPPC liposomes caused changes in the partition coefficient of the Tempo spin label between water and polar head group phases. By determining the electronic absorption maxima, we observed that the chromophore of quercetin is localized in the polar head region. Fluorescence microscopy of HSF cells showed quercetin presence in the membrane, cytoplasm and inside the nucleus. Ultrastructural observation revealed some changes, especially in membranous structures, after flavonol treatment. From the results we have concluded that quercetin present in the membrane and other structures can cause changes within cells crucial for its pharmacological activity.
Pawlikowska-Pawlega
Bozena
B
Department of Comparative Anatomy and Anthropology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, ul. Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland. pawbo@biotop.umcs.lublin.pl
Gruszecki
Wiesław Ignacy
WI
Misiak
Lucjan
L
Paduch
Roman
R
Piersiak
Tomasz
T
Zarzyka
Barbara
B
Pawelec
Jarosław
J
Gawron
Antoni
A
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D055672:Static Electricity
D011794:Quercetin