Quercetin in Food: Possible Mechanisms of Its Effect on Memory

Abstract

Quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) is found in vegetables and fruits. It is one of the major flavonoids that is part of human diets. Quercetin has several pharmacological effects in the nervous system as a neuroprotective agent. In this review, we summarize the research on quercetin and its role in memory in both animals and humans. Articles were chosen from the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. In this review, we describe and summarize the importance of quercetin's presence in the body, particularly in the brain; its kinetics, including its absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion; its behavioral effects; and some of the possible mechanisms of action of quercetin on memory in different animal models. Several important pathways that may be involved in the processes of learning and memory, long-term potentiation, and cognition may be impaired during neurological diseases or other medical conditions. As dietary quercetin is important, provision of its best formulation for delivery to the brain as a nutraceutical and in clinical translational research for the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia is necessary.

Therapeutic Potential of Diosgenin and Its Major Derivatives against Neurological Diseases: Recent Advances

“…NPs isolated from Chinese herbs have been widely used in traditional medicine over centuries. Many natural products derived from herbs exhibit a wide range of pharmacological properties, including the antimalarial drug artemisinin from Artemisia apiacea [9], the anticancer drug paclitaxel from Taxus brevifolia [10], and quercetin found in various vegetables and fruits [11]. Diosgenin (DG) is a naturally occurring steroidal sapogenin isolated from Agavaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Liliaceae, Solanaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Leguminosae, and Rhamnaceae [12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

Characterization of xylitol or citric acid:choline chloride:water mixtures: Structure, thermophysical properties, and quercetin solubility

“…Studies of its anticancer capacity have also been reported (Wang et al, 2016). Consequently, Q is considered a dietary supplement (Babaei, Mirzababaei, & Nassiri-Asl, 2018) and it is used in industries related to feeding and pharmacology. Many common foods in the human diet (tomatoes and onions, among others) contain quercetin.…”

Antitumor Effects of Quercetin in Hepatocarcinoma In Vitro and In Vivo Models: A Systematic Review

“…Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer activities are some of the mainly described quercetin mechanisms of action [1,2,5]. Besides, therapeutic potential of this flavonoid has been evaluated in a broad variety of human disorders, including diabetes [3], cardiovascular [3], neurodegenerative [3,4,6] and Alzheimer's diseases [6]; and positive actions on blood vessel pressure, intestinal microbiota and kidney disfunction [5], among others, were also related to quercetin efficacy.…”