Inhibition of reactive oxygen species and pre-neoplastic lesions by quercetin through an antioxidant defense mechanism

• Published in: Free radical research 2009-01, Vol.43 (2), p.128-137
• Main Authors: Vásquez-Garzón, Verónica R., Arellanes-Robledo, Jaime, García-Román, Rebeca, Aparicio-Rautista, Diana I., Villa-Treviño, Saúl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents - pharmacology; antioxidant defense system; Antioxidants - pharmacology; chemoprevention; Disease Models, Animal; hepatocarcinogenesis; Male; Oxidative stress; Precancerous Conditions - chemically induced; Precancerous Conditions - metabolism; Precancerous Conditions - prevention & control; quercetin; Quercetin - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Reactive Oxygen Species - antagonists & inhibitors; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism
• ISSN: 1071-5762; 1029-2470
• DOI: 10.1080/10715760802626535

There is a correlation between oxidative stress generated by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) metabolism and liver cancer development. Quercetin is a flavonoid with anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant properties. This study demonstrates the mechanism of action for the chemopreventive effect of quercetin. A 10 mg/kg dose of quercetin produced drastic effect, when it is administrated 2 h before DEN; at 24 days post-DEN, a 70.3% and 66.2% decrease in total area and number of preneoplastic lesions were observed, respectively. At 12 h post-DEN, quercetin inhibited levels of lipid peroxidation by 40%. Quercetin increased the levels of both GSH and of total glutathione, it increased the GSH/GSSG index and it caused a rapid and simultaneous elevation in the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase. In conclusion, the quercetin mechanism of action is due to promote the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense system during the initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis.