title: Role of quercetin (a natural herbal compound) in allergy and inflammation.
abstract: An investigated flavonoid, quercetin, is reviewed in this article. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid found in red wine, grapefruit, onions, apples, black tea, and, in lesser amounts, in leafy green vegetables and beans. Quercetin has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and prevents cancer. Quercitin inhibits the growth of certain malignant cells in vitro, and histamine and most cyclin-dependent kinases and also displays unique anticancer properties. Quercetin is a natural compound that blocks substances involved in allergies and is able to act as an inhibitor of mast cell secretion, causes a decrease in the release of tryptase, MCP-1 and IL-6 and the down-regulation of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) mRNA from few mast cell lines. Quercetin is a safe, natural therapy that may be used as primary therapy or in conjunction with conventional methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Shaik
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Castellani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perrella
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tete
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Madhappan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vecchiet
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Lutiis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caraffa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cerulli
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D011794:Quercetin; D053802:Tryptases
chemical_list: D011794:Quercetin; D053802:Tryptases