Quercetin Increases Oxidative Stress Resistance and Longevity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2007-03, Vol.55 (6), p.2446-2451
• Main Authors: Belinha, Iracema, Amorim, Maria Amélia, Rodrigues, Pedro, de Freitas, Victor, Moradas-Ferreira, Pedro, Mateus, Nuno, Costa, Vítor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Drug Resistance; Enzyme Induction - drug effects; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology; Iron Chelating Agents - metabolism; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Quercetin - pharmacology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - drug effects; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - physiology; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf063302e

Quercetin, the major flavonol found in several fruits and vegetables, is a natural antioxidant with potential anticancer and antiaging activities. In this paper, the effect of quercetin in Sacharomyces cerevisiae cells submitted to oxidative stress was studied. Hydrogen peroxide resistance increased in cells pretreated with quercetin. Cellular protection was correlated with a decrease in oxidative stress markers, namely, levels of reactive oxygen species, glutathione oxidation, protein carbonylation, and lipid peroxidation. The acquisition of H2O2 resistance was not associated with the induction of antioxidant defenses or with iron chelation. Oxidative stress is a limiting factor for longevity. In agreement, quercetin also increased 60% chronological life span. These results support the utilization of yeast as a useful model to screen in vivo for natural antioxidants with putative health beneficial effects. Keywords: Yeast; quercetin; oxidative stress; chronological life span; lipid peroxidation; protein carbonylation