A new study published in the pulmonology journal Respiratory Research demonstrated the effectiveness of the potent antioxidant Quercetin in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in laboratory mice exposed to a toxic chemical commonly found in cigarette smoke.
Quercetin, a flavinoid found in many plants, has long been studied for its antioxidant properties. Over the past few years, Quercetin has garnered more and more attention from pulmonology researchers seeking methods to help alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation in smokers and people with respiratory health concerns. In several laboratory animal studies and in a few human tissue studies, Quercetin has been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress associated with prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke.
In this new study, the University of Michigan based-investigators sought to confirm previous Quercetin study results by using a different method of exposing laboratory mice to a toxic chemical found in cigarette smoke. (Ganasen S, et al. Respiratory Research. 2010, 11:131)
Instead of exposing laboratory mice to cigarette smoke itself, the investigators instead introduced a specific chemical found in cigarette smoke called lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the mice via their nasal openings. According to the study authors LPS is, “a cell wall component of gram negative bacteria, is a potent inflammatory molecule and is present in appreciable amounts in cigarette smoke. It is also an active component in environmental and occupational exposures…”
The researchers divided the mice into three groups. One group (the control group) received no exposure to LPS or Quercetin. One group received LPS but no Quercetin (the LPS group). The third group was exposed to LPS and orally fed daily doses of Quercetin at 10mg per kg of body weight (the Quercetin group).
The 8-10 week old mice in the two groups who were exposed to LPS (LPS group & Quercetin group) received the exposure one day a week over a 4 week period. After the 4 week LPS exposure period, mice in the Quercetin group received the potent antioxidant once a day for 10 days. Then the mice were euthanized and their lung cells examined.
To assess the degree of inflammation and oxidative stress, the research team evaluated counts of certain proteins and white blood cells known to be present in high amounts in lung tissue inflamed due to cigarette smoke (e.g. cytokines, chemokines, TBARs). They first discovered that the LPS group mice did indeed evidence a significant degree of inflammation from the 4 week exposure to LPS thus validating their method of exposing lung cells directly to a toxic chemical contained in cigarette smoke.
They further discovered that Quercetin significantly reduced the degree of inflammation and oxidative stress in the Quercetin group when comparing counts of the inflammation/oxidative stress markers mentioned above to mice in the LPS group. As the study authors concluded, “In summary, we have demonstrated that quercetin, a plant polyphenol, reduces oxidative stress, inflammation and MMP levels in elastase/LPS treated mice which show typical features of [poor respiratory function].”
While these results support previous respiratory health studies evaluating the potential of Quercetin as a helpful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory dietary ingredient, there have yet to be live human studies conducted that provide definitive guidance regarding efficacious dosages in humans desiring better respiratory health. That said, Quercetin is readily available in dietary supplement form in daily recommended dosages ranging from 100mg to 500mg. There are also a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that contain high concentrations of Quercetin that can be viewed by clicking here.
We have also included Quercetin at 200mg in our new respiratory support supplement formula, Resplenish along with a dozen other potent antioxidants studied for their respiratory support properties. To learn more about Resplenish, visit www.resplenish.com.
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