title: A Phase I Dose Escalation Study Demonstrates Quercetin Safety and Explores Potential for Bioflavonoid Antivirals in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.
abstract: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects more than 180 million people worldwide, with long-term consequences including liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Quercetin bioflavonoids can decrease HCV production in tissue culture, in part through inhibition of heat shock proteins. If quercetin demonstrates safety and antiviral activity in patients, then it could be developed into an inexpensive HCV treatment for third world countries or other affected populations that lack financial means to cover the cost of mainstream antivirals. A phase 1 dose escalation study was performed to evaluate the safety of quercetin in 30 untreated patients with chronic HCV infection and to preliminarily characterize quercetin's potential in suppressing viral load and/or liver injury. Quercetin displayed safety in all trial participants. Additionally, 8 patients showed a "clinically meaningful" 0.41-log viral load decrease. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.41, p = 0.03) indicating a tendency for HCV decrease in patients with a lower ratio of plasma quercetin relative to dose. No significant changes in aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were detected. In conclusion, quercetin exhibited safety (up to 5 g daily) and there was a potential for antiviral activity in some hepatitis C patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.|Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Nu T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.|Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Center for Cancer Prevention and Control, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Crespi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Natalie M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: James Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.affiliation: College of Osteopathic Medicine, Touro University, Vallejo, USA.
authors.forename: Yasaman
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ahmadieh
authors.affiliation: Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Neuromodulation Division, Boston Scientific Inc., Valencia, USA.
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Kaiser Permanente Sunset, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McClune
authors.affiliation: Pfleger Liver Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Durazo
authors.affiliation: Pfleger Liver Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Sammy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saab
authors.affiliation: Pfleger Liver Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Appalachian State University- North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Neiman
authors.affiliation: Pfleger Liver Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beaven
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011794:Quercetin; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: bioflavonoids; dose escalation; hepatitis C; phase I; phytomedicine; quercetin