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Background and purpose: Paraquat is one of the chemical herbicides with high toxicity. In case of incorrect consumption, this chemical causes fatal poisoning in people, especially those active in the field of agriculture. Nowadays, using compounds of natural origin to improve or reduce the harmful effects of agricultural pesticides is one of the important issues that has attracted the attention of researchers in this field. Quercetin as a natural flavonoid is found in large quantities in fruits and vegetables. As a kind of natural antioxidant, this compound has great power in removing free radicals. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the protective effects of quercetin on ovarian toxicity caused by paraquat in rats. Materials and methods: To conduct this experimental research, 30 adult Wistar rats with an average age of 6 to 8 months and a weight range of 160 to 180 gr were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups including 6 rats in each group. Paraquat (1.25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was injected into mice. Then quercetin was injected intraperitoneally in concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg. The negative control group received only normal saline. After 24 hours, the animals were sacrificed and their ovaries were evaluated for changes in oxidative stress indices. Results: The results showed that paraquat significantly increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein carbonyl, and lipid peroxidation, and significantly decreased glutathione content and survival of ovarian tissue cells when compared with the control group (P

Background and purpose: Infertility is one of the medical problems in the world today. Clomiphene citrate drug is used to treat infertility. One of the side effects of this drug is the formation of tumor tissue in the ovary. Quercetin is a flavonoid found abundantly in nature. Quercetin is found in many fruits, vegetables, leaves, seeds, and grains. Quercetin has the potential to be used in the treatment of cancer. The most well-known and common tumor suppressor gene in humans is the p53 gene. The p53 gene was discovered in 1979 and recognized as a tumor suppressor gene in 1989. This gene was recognized as the guardian of the genome in 1992 due to its role in maintaining the stability of the genome. The p53 gene is the most commonly mutated in human cancers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the protective effect of quercetin on normal ovary cell viability induced by clomiphene citrate drug and its correlation with p53 gene expression. Materials and methods: In this research, Normal ovarian cells of the CHO cell line were used. Concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 mg/ml quercetin 50 μM clomiphene citrate drug and 0.29 μg/ml cisplatin were prepared and added to the cultured cells for 24 hours. In this study, Clomiphene Citrate and Cisplatin are both positive controls. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. RNA was extracted and p53 gene expression was analyzed by Real-Time PCR. In this study, the primer used for the p53 gene was designed using NCBI and primer3 sites. In this study, the internal control gene is GAPDH. Results: Results showed that the concentrations of 50, 100, 500, and 1000 mg/ml of quercetin reduced the toxicity of clomiphene citrate drug and cisplatin (both positive controls). So the higher quercetin concentration leads to a higher number of living cells and at 1000 mg/ml quercetin the number of living cells reached 83%. The results of Real-time PCR showed that Quercetin significantly increased the expression of the p53 gene compared to the positive control group (clomiphene citrate) and negative control (P

Background and purpose: Infertility is one of the medical problems in the world today. Clomiphene citrate drug is used to treat infertility. One of the side effects of this drug is the formation of tumor tissue in the ovary. Quercetin is a flavonoid found abundantly in nature. Quercetin is found in many fruits, vegetables, leaves, seeds, and grains. Quercetin has the potential to be used in the treatment of cancer. The most wellknown and common tumor suppressor gene in humans is the p53 gene. The p53 gene was discovered in 1979 and recognized as a tumor suppressor gene in 1989. This gene was recognized as the guardian of the genome in 1992 due to its role in maintaining the stability of the genome. The p53 gene is the most commonly mutated in human cancers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the protective effect of quercetin on normal ovary cell viability induced by clomiphene citrate drug and its correlation with p53 gene expression. Materials and methods: In this research, Normal ovarian cells of the CHO cell line were used. Concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 mg/ml quercetin 50 μM clomiphene citrate drug and 0.29 μg/ml cisplatin were prepared and added to the cultured cells for 24 hours. In this study, Clomiphene Citrate and Cisplatin are both positive controls. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. RNA was extracted and p53 gene expression was analyzed by Real-Time PCR. In this study, the primer used for the p53 gene was designed using NCBI and primer3 sites. In this study, the internal control gene is GAPDH. Results: Results showed that the concentrations of 50, 100, 500, and 1000 mg/ml of quercetin reduced the toxicity of clomiphene citrate drug and cisplatin (both positive controls). So the higher quercetin concentration leads to a higher number of living cells and at 1000 mg/ml quercetin the number of living cells reached 83%. The results of Real-time PCR showed that Quercetin significantly increased the expression of the p53 gene compared to the positive control group (clomiphene citrate) and negative control (P<0.05). In the concentrations of 500 (P=0.0020) and 1000 (P<0.0001) quercetin compared to clomiphene citrate, this expression increase was more significant. Also, in the concentrations of 500 (P<0.0001) and 1000 (P<0.0001) quercetin compared to the negative control, a substantial increase in p53 gene expression was observed. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the use of quercetin inhibits the cytotoxicity of clomiphene citrate and increases the expression of the p53 gene, and its effectiveness is dose-dependent. However, Our study may partially explain the role of quercetin in the tumorigenesis process in the development of cancer in normal ovarian cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Paraquat is one of the chemical herbicides with high toxicity. In case of incorrect consumption, this chemical causes fatal poisoning in people, especially those active in the field of agriculture. Nowadays, using compounds of natural origin to improve or reduce the harmful effects of agricultural pesticides is one of the important issues that has attracted the attention of researchers in this field. Quercetin as a natural flavonoid is found in large quantities in fruits and vegetables. As a kind of natural antioxidant, this compound has great power in removing free radicals. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the protective effects of quercetin on ovarian toxicity caused by paraquat in rats. Materials and methods: To conduct this experimental research, 30 adult Wistar rats with an average age of 6 to 8 months and a weight range of 160 to 180 gr were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups including 6 rats in each group. Paraquat (1.25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was injected into mice. Then quercetin was injected intraperitoneally in concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg. The negative control group received only normal saline. After 24 hours, the animals were sacrificed and their ovaries were evaluated for changes in oxidative stress indices. Results: The results showed that paraquat significantly increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein carbonyl, and lipid peroxidation, and significantly decreased glutathione content and survival of ovarian tissue cells when compared with the control group (P<0.001). The results showed that different concentrations of quercetin could inhibit the lipid peroxidation reaction caused by paraquat toxicity, and the positive control group had a statistically significant difference compared to the negative control group (P<0.001). By administering quercetin in different concentrations, we saw a decrease in the production of lipid peroxidation. From a statistical point of view, quercetin at the concentration (mg/kg) of 50 had a significant difference with the positive control group (P<0.01) and this significant difference was also evident at the concentrations of (mg/kg) 100 and 200 (P<0.0001). Increasing the concentration of quercetin was associated with improved performance in inhibiting paraquat toxicity. Conclusion: Results showed that quercetin can be useful as an effective antioxidant combination in improving oxidative stress indicators and ovarian tissue of mice. Quercetin can reduce paraquat-induced oxidative damage in rat ovarian tissues in a dose-dependent manner. Quercetin can potentially be used to control ovarian toxicity, modulate or inhibit oxidative factors, strengthen the immune system, and strengthen the antioxidant system in animal models. Probably, it can be used as a kind of safe supplement in combination with other drugs affecting the immune system. However, this hypothesis along with the effect of other drug interactions should be confirmed using appropriate in vivo studies. Understanding the process of cell death caused by paraquat and the inhibitory effect of natural antioxidants on it provides a new road map for future studies to develop new therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:Quercetin is effective in the rehabilitation and treatment of apoptosis caused by cardiac ischemia, however, due to its low solubility in water, it is not suitable for clinical application, which can be improved by turning it into nanoparticles. The present study was designed to determine the effect of liposome nanoparticles with quercetin on apoptotic indices P38 and MK2 and its mechanisms in the rehabilitation of ischemic heart damage in rats.Methods:30 rats weighing 250±20 grams (aged 6-8 weeks) were randomly divided into five groups (healthy, sick, sick+supplement, sick+exercise and sick+exercise+supplement). Myocardial infarction was performed with isopronalin as a subcutaneous injection. Supplemental gavage was performed after training (8 sessions of aerobic training including: 5 days of training per week, which includes 7 intervals) and it was performed with a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight of mice in the supplement receiving groups for eight weeks in the supplement receiving groups 48 hours after the last training session. The expression level of P38 and MK2 genes was measured by Real-Time PCR method. Data analysis was done with one-way analysis of variance, ANOVA, and Tukey's test at a significance level of p

Background and Objective: Considering the increasing use of silver nanoparticles in various products, including industrial and medical products, serious worries have been created regarding the potential dangers of silver nanoparticles. This study was conducted to determine the effect of silver nanoparticles on the kidney tissues of quercetin-treated NMRI rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 24 adult male NMRI rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6. The groups included the control group, the silver nanoparticles group (500 mg/kg/bw), the quercetin group (50 mg/kg/bw), and the silver nanoparticles (500 mg/kg/bw) + quercetin (50 mg/kg/bw) group. Silver nanoparticles were fed orally on a daily basis for 35 days. Quercetin was injected intraperitoneally on a daily basis for 42 days. At the end of the study, after taking blood from the rats, the dissection, tissue passaging, and Heidenhain’s Azan staining stages were carried out. The total volumes of the kidney, cortex and medulla, renal corpuscle, and glomerulus were evaluated by a stereological method. A qualitative assessment of apoptotic cells was performed using the tunnel method. The amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood serum was specified as an indicator of lipid peroxidation by the Buege and Aust method. Results: Comparing the body weight and kidneys, and the total kidney, cortex, and medulla volumes showed no statistically significant difference between the silver nanoparticles group and the control group. The silver nanoparticles group showed a significant increase in the total mean renal corpuscle volume, glomerular volume, tuft volume, Bowman’s capsule membrane volume, and the amount of MDA compared to the control group (P

Background and Objective: Considering the increasing use of silver nanoparticles in various products, including industrial and medical products, serious worries have been created regarding the potential dangers of silver nanoparticles. This study was conducted to determine the effect of silver nanoparticles on the kidney tissues of quercetin-treated NMRI rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 24 adult male NMRI rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6. The groups included the control group, the silver nanoparticles group (500 mg/kg/bw), the quercetin group (50 mg/kg/bw), and the silver nanoparticles (500 mg/kg/bw) + quercetin (50 mg/kg/bw) group. Silver nanoparticles were fed orally on a daily basis for 35 days. Quercetin was injected intraperitoneally on a daily basis for 42 days. At the end of the study, after taking blood from the rats, the dissection, tissue passaging, and Heidenhain’s Azan staining stages were carried out. The total volumes of the kidney, cortex and medulla, renal corpuscle, and glomerulus were evaluated by a stereological method. A qualitative assessment of apoptotic cells was performed using the tunnel method. The amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood serum was specified as an indicator of lipid peroxidation by the Buege and Aust method. Results: Comparing the body weight and kidneys, and the total kidney, cortex, and medulla volumes showed no statistically significant difference between the silver nanoparticles group and the control group. The silver nanoparticles group showed a significant increase in the total mean renal corpuscle volume, glomerular volume, tuft volume, Bowman’s capsule membrane volume, and the amount of MDA compared to the control group (P<0.05). Also, a statistically significant reduction was observed in the silver nanoparticles group in the total mean volume of Bowman’s capsule and capillary spaces compared to the control group (P<0.05). Quercetin could reduce the detrimental effects of silver nanoparticles on kidney cells as much as the control group; however, apoptosis was not shown in kidney cells in the group treated with quercetin. Assessing the cells in the silver nanoparticles group indicated the creation of apoptosis. The amount of serum MDA in the silver nanoparticles group showed a statistically significant increase compared to other groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that quercetin could reduce the detrimental effects of silver nanoparticles on kidney cells as much as the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of ultrasound and temperature at three different levels—30, 50, and 70 °C on the amount of phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of the extract obtained from the byproducts of three date byproducts—Kabkab, Mozafati, and Sayer were evaluated. In order to conduct a comprehensive assessment of antioxidant activities, three methods including DPPH and H2O2 radical scavenging activities, and ion chelating ability were employed. The Pierson analysis was used to examine the correlation between polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activities. According to the results, the use of ultrasound treatment enhanced the amount of extracted polyphenols and flavonoids in all date varieties. Furthermore, the polyphenol and flavonoid contents were found to increase up to 50°C during extraction, but decreased, subsequently. The highest amount of polyphenols and flavonoids was achieved using the ultrasound treatment in 50° C in Sayer variety, 4.64 ± 0.07 mg Gallic acid/g and 0.326 ± 0.0112 mg quercetin/g, respectively. DPPH and H2O2 radical scavenging activities were increased after ultrasound treatment at 50°C but then decreased (P<0.05). Maximum H2O2 scavenging activity was observed in Mozafati variety. The iron chelating ability decreased after extraction with ultrasound treatment at 30° C and then increased significantly (P<0.05) until reached the maximum amount of 40.433 ± 0.802% in Sayer variety. Results showed a strong correlation between polyphenols and flavonoids with antioxidant activities. Therefore, the antioxidant properties of the tested date byproducts are likely to derive from their polyphenolic content, making them an economical source of these bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cancer is one of the most common diseases in the world today that causes many concerns in life. Colon cancer is one of the cancers of the gastrointestinal tract that causes destructive, atrophic and catabolic effects on muscles. An important issue is the effect of aerobic exercise and quercetin supplementation on disease progression and analytical effects on muscle tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of aerobic exercise and quercetin supplementation on the progression of colon cancer in rats and changes in the effects of IGF1 and myostatin on muscle tissue and the shape of fluctuations in atrophy and muscle wasting. Methods: The subjects of this study included 25 male Wistar rats (weight: 250 ± 30 g, age: 12 weeks) which were homogenized by weight and randomly divided into 5 groups (5 heads in each group) of healthy controls. Cancer control group, cancer group + quercetin supplement, cancer group + aerobic exercise, cancer group + quercetin supplement + aerobic exercise was evaluated. Measurements of IGF1 and myostatin in muscle tissue of rats were performed according to the standard and ELISA method. SPSS software was used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that 8 weeks of aerobic training in muscle tissue of mice with colon cancer had a significant effect on the mean values of myostatin (p = 0.005) and IGF1 (p = 0.019). 8 weeks of quercetin supplementation in muscle tissue of mice with colon cancer had a significant effect on mean myostatin and mean values IGF (P <0.05) in the control and experimental groups (8 weeks of quercetin supplementation) had no significant effect on mean myostatin and IGF1. (P>0/05) Conclusion: In general, the findings showed that aerobic exercise and quercetin supplementation improve IGF1 and reduce myostatin in muscle tissue of mice with colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Colon cancer or colorectal cancer is the growth of cancerous masses in the colon. According to research evidence, the use of antioxidants and regular exercise are the best ways to prevent and treat many diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of intermittent exercise and Quercetin consumption on the brain-derived neurogenic factor (BDNF) and cyclic-adenosine monophosphate responsive element-binding protein (CREB) in the brain hippocampus of rats with colon cancer which has many influences on cognitive functions.Methods: The subjects of this study included 50 male Wistar rats (weight: 250±30 grams, age: 12 weeks) which were homogenized by weight and were randomly divided into five Healthy Control, Cancer Control, Cancer + Quercetin supplement, Cancer + Intermittent exercise, Cancer + Quercetin supplement + Intermittent exercise groups (10 rats in each group). BDNF and CREB measurements were performed in the rats’ hippocampus according to the ELISA standards and method. SPSS software was used for data analysis.Results: The results showed that eight weeks of intermittent exercises had a significant effect on the mean score of BDNF (p = 0.047) and CREB (p = 0.032) in rats’ hippocampus with colon cancer. Eight weeks of Quercetin supplementation had no significant effect on the mean BDNF score (p = 0.792) and the mean CREB score (p = 0.363) in rats’ hippocampus with colon cancer Conclusion: In general, the findings showed that intermittent exercise and Quercetin supplementation improve BDNF and CREB in the hippocampus of rats with colon cancer.

Drought stress is the most common abiotic stress that has the most negative effect on plant growth and production Polyamines are plant growth regulators that increase plant resistance to environmental stresses, including drought stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foliar application of spermidine on reducing the effects of drought stress on marigold (Calendula officinalis L.). For this purpose, foliar application of spermidine (0, 50, and 100 mg/l) was considered at different levels of drought stress (control, 25, 50, and 75% of field capacity) in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with 3 replications in 2018 in a greenhouse located in northern Iran. The foliar application was applied at three stages with intervals of about 20 days including six visible leaves, complete tillering, and emergence of the first bud. Results showed that drought stress and foliar application of spermidine had a significant effect on the evaluated traits. The highest fresh and dry weight of shoots, number of flowers, and total chlorophyll contents were observed in the treatment with 75% of field capacity and spermidine 50 mg/l and the highest fresh and dry weight of roots and flowers on the plant were recorded in the treatment with 100% of field capacity and spermidine 100 mg/l. Also, the highest root length, plant height, total antioxidant activity (DPPH), rutin and quercetin were observed in the treatment with 75% of field capacity and spermidine 100 mg/l and the highest proline and polyphenol oxidase activity was observed in the treatment with 25% of field capacity. Therefore, according to the results of this study, foliar application of spermidine 100 mg/l with an irrigation level of 75% of field capacity is recommended for marigold.

Background and Objectives In recent years, flavonoids such as quercetin have been considered as new anticancer drugs. The mechanisms of action of quercetin include cell cycle arrest, inhabitation of cell proliferation, and induction of apoptosis. This study aims to reduce quercetin’s side effects by increasing MCF-7 breast cancer cells’ sensitivity to this drug and facilitating the cytotoxic effects of quercetin at lower concentrations. Subjects and Methods In this study, the MTT assay was used to determine the concentration that reduced the cell viability by 50% (i.e. lethal concentration 50 or LC50). Then, the expression of the DNA fragmentation factor-45 (DFF45) and some genes in the apoptosis pathway (caspase3, p53, BAX, BCL-2, AIF), the autophagy pathway (LC3, ATG5, Beclin, DRAM) and the AKT/mTOR pathway (AKT1, mTOR, and PTEN), in cells treated with siRNA, quercetin, and quercetin+siRNA using the real-time PCR. Results According to the results of MTT assay, the LC50 value for quercetin was determined 220 μM. The results indicated the initiation of cell death through autophagy pathways. The combined treatment (quercetin+siRNA) increased the mechanism of cancer cell death more than the quercetin treatment alone. Conclusion One of the regulating pathways of apoptosis is forcing the inhibitory effect of DFF45 on DFF40/CAD nuclease. Down regulation of DFF45, along with quercetin administration, can lead to induction of breast cancer cell death which can be a novel technique for the treatment of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Osteosarcoma (also called osteogenic sarcoma) is the most common type of cancer that starts in the bones. It is a malignant mesenchymal cell tumour, characterized by pleomorphic spindle-shaped cells, capable of producing an osteoid matrix. Tumour cells metastasize primarily via the haematogenous route. This disease is very aggressive and the tumor formed is fixed, hard and irregular. The cancer cells in these tumors look like early forms of bone cells that normally help make new bone tissue, but the bone tissue in an osteosarcoma is not as strong as that in normal bones. Overall, osteosarcoma is a rare disease, however, children and teens are the most commonly affected age group, but osteosarcoma can develop at any age. Although this disease occurs sporadically, approximately 70% of tumor specimens show an abnormality in the chromosome. Moreover, regulation of cell cycle has been reported to demonstrate inherited defects in some cases. The incidence of osteosarcoma is bimodal. The first peak occurs at the ages of puberty, implying the ages of 15 to 19 in boys and the ages of 10 to 14 in girls. The second peak occurs in the elderly with the age of 75 years. Noteworthy, osteosarcoma is rare before the age of 5. With the application of multimodal chemotherapy, disease-free survival of patients with high-grade osteosarcoma has been improved to more than 60% compared to 10–20% which was reachable with the surgery as the only therapeutic approach. At present, treatment of osteosarcoma is a combination of surgery and chemotherapy both before and after the surgery. Additionally, the use of common chemotherapeutic agents such as high-dose methotrexate, cisplatin, doxorubicin and/or etoposide and ifosfamide frequently causes both acute and long-term toxicity. Although several chemotherapy regimens have been applied in the past 20 years, survival rates of patients are still not satisfying and no practical targeted therapy is discovered. Therefore, it is important to investigate different therapeutic methods and anti-tumor agents in order to find an approach that provides a higher survival rate. Flavonoids possess several biological and pharmacological activities. In addition, flavonoids have the advantage of being less toxic and can be prescribed for an extended duration. Therefore, various plant-derived flavonoids use as drugs have been reported as a modulator for chronic inflammation caused by virus infection and other diseases, such as human papillomavirus, hepatitis virus, SARS-CoV-2, autoimmune disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer. Quercetin is a naturally occurring polyphenolic flavonoid, whose chemical name is 3,3′,4′,5,7- Pentahydroxyflavone (C15H10O7), can be found in a wide range of daily foods, such as grains, fruits, and vegetables and in higher levels in capers, buckwheat seeds, radish, onions, apples, red leaf lettuce, asparagus, nuts, and teas. It is reported that oral administration of 1 g quercetin per day is safe and is absorbed up to 60%. Quercetin has a high ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) molecules; therefore, exhibiting beneficial effects in preventing obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammation. Furthermore, quercetin is indicated to exert various anti-tumor effects both in vitro and in vivo against several cancers, such as ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, lymphoma, gastric cancer, and breast cancer. On the other hand, the high toxic effect of quercetin against cancer cells is accompanied with little or no side effects or harm to normal cells. Its wide accessibility, efficacy, and a broad range of activity, and low toxicity as compared with other examined compounds, make it an attractive chemical in the fight against diseases including cancer. It has been recognized and employed as an alternative drug in treating different cancers alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs. NO is a free radical that regulates several physiological functions and is formed by the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline by nitric oxide synthases (NOS). NO is a dual molecule that can have a tumor-protecting or stimulating effect, depending on its local concentration. Certain reports demonstrated a cytotoxic role of NO; others presented a protective role. Many investigations have shown that quercetin has anti-inflammatory activity that pulls out the nitric oxide, catalase, and cytokines, specifically TNF-α, IL-β, and IL-6, which are inflammatory mediators. Therefore, we tried to elucidate the influence of quercetin in order to suggest a new candidate for the treatment of this cancer, on in vitro NO production from Saos2 osteosarcoma cell line Methods: After 24 hours of culture of Saos2 cells in 96-well plates, different concentrations of quercetin were added to the wells for 72 hours. Cell viability was measured using the colorimetric MTT assay. Briefly, cells were incubated with 0.5mg/mL MTT in DMEM at 37 ºC under 5 % CO2 for 3 h. The blue formazan reduction product, which is generated by the action of the succinate dehydrogenase on the dye only in living cells, was dissolved in 100µL DMSO, and its absorbance was read at 570nm using a Dynex MMX microplate reader. The level of nitrite as an indicator of NO production in the culture medium was measured using modified Griess reagent. In brief, after the experiment, the medium in each well was removed and centrifuged at 10,000 g for 10 min at 20 ºC. Then, 100 µL of the supernatant was mixed with an equal volume of Griess reagent at room temperature for 10 min, and the absorbance was measured at 540 nm using a microplate reader. The nitrite concentration was determined from a sodium nitrite standard curve. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results of this study showed that quercetin can decrease the percentage of cell viability of Saos2 cells compared to the control group. The best effective dose is 120 μM. Also, the data showed that quercetin in all concentrations was able to reduce the production of NO levels in Saos2 cells and the best effective concentration is 120 μM. Conclusion: In this study, it was found that quercetin was able to reduce the viability of Saos2 cells, and part of its effects could be mediated partially by a decrease in NO production. However, further studies are needed on this natural compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was performed to determine the content of some bioactive compounds and flavonoids of Atriplex patula L. at different phenological stages. Three phonological stages, including vegetative (eight-leaf), flowering and seed production stages, were considered as three treatments of experiment. Some biochemical parameters and also rutin and quercetin were measured at different growth stages. The results showed that the highest (2.06 mg g-1) and lowest (0.88 mg g-1) total chlorophyll content was observed at seed production and vegetative stages, respectively. Also, the highest chlorophyll 'a', chlorophyll 'b' and carotenoids contents were observed in the seed production and vegetative stages, respectively. The highest amount of total phenols (132.76 mg gallic acid 100g-1 FW), total tannin (0.057 mg tannic acid 100g-1 FW) and antioxidant capacity (50.28%) were found at flowering stage, while the lowest amount of total phenols (92.24 mg gallic acid 100g-1 FW), total tannin (0.041 mg tannic acid 100g-1 FW) and antioxidant capacity (16.95%) were observed at vegetative stage. The highest and lowest (88.05 and 35.95 mg rutin 100g-1 FW) amount of total flavonoid was found at seed production and vegetative stages. The highest and lowest quercetin levels were observed in seed production and vegetative stages (0.05 and 0.01 mg g-1 dry weight), respectively. Also, the highest and lowest (2.11 and 1.85 mg g-1 dry weight) amount of rutin were found in the seed production and vegetative stages. Due to the high amount of some biochemical compounds in Atriplex patula, the medicinal potential of this plant can be used in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the use of the ultrasonic apparatus has been investigated in the extraction process of Hypericum perforatum L. flowers. The effect of methanol to water ratio (24.77, 35, 50, 65, and 75.22 percent), time (1.59, 5, 10, 15, and 18.40 minutes), and temperature (24.77, 35, 50, 65, and 75.22 °C) on the extraction of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of the extract using two methods of 2,2 -diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH%) and (FRAP) Ferric Reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were studied using the response surface method and central composite design. The results of RSM showed that the highest extraction efficiency was obtained at 50% methanol/water ratio, 70 °C, and 15 min. Under optimal conditions, the corresponding values for total phenol content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant assays of %DPPH and FRAP were 28.46 (mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g-1 dry weight (DW)), 19.75 (mg quercetin g−1 DW), 89.23 (%DPPH), and 3.57 FRAP µmol Fe++ /g DW respectively. In addition, results express the effectiveness of the proposed conditions and reliability of central composite design analysis on the extraction of phenolic antioxidants from H. perforatum flowers. Using ultrasonic is a low -cost, simple, and efficient method for the extraction of phenolic antioxidants, which increases the extraction efficiency and thermal protection of phenolic antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Propolis, as a natural product have several biological benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial as well as anticancer properties. Its application extensively depends on its composition and the concentrations of the major active components. The aim of, this study was to evaluate the concentrations of chrysin, quercetin and, caffeic acid as three active components, in the Iranian propolis using UV-HPLC method. Materials and Methods: Three different samples of propolis were collected from Saral and Avalan regions (Kurdistan Province, Iran) in spring 2017. To separate and measure the concentrations of the three components, the samples were extracted by using an ethanolic solution (80%) and subsequently analyzed by the UV-HPLC system with an isocratic mode at a flow rate of 1ml/min for 20 min and ultraviolet detection at λmax 260 or 310 nm. For evaluation of the quality control of the assay, the linearity and detection limits of the method were calculated. Results: Chrysin was not detected in our samples. The average concentrations of quercetin and caffeic acid were 65.425 and 27.498 µg/g, respectively. Conclusion: For the first time, we reported accurately the concentrations of three active components of Iranian propolis which many of propolis's beneficial effects have been attributed to them.

The post -harvest techniques of medicinal plants such as drying, is very important in their production cycle. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different drying methods on some phytochemical traits of Chuchak in the spring of 2020 based on the completely randomized design with three replications. The chuchak samples were collected in the vegetative stage from the gardens of Noor city, Iran. The drying treatments were shade -drying at room temperature (25 ±3°C), sun -drying, oven -drying (45, 55 and 65°C), vacuum oven -drying (45, 55 and 65°C), microwave -drying (200, 500 and 800 watts), and fresh samples. The studied traits were moisture content based on fresh and dry weight, drying time and speed, ascorbic acid content, protein content, total carbohydrate content, total phenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity. The results of the variance analysis showed the significant effect of drying methods on all studied properties of the samples (P ≤0.01). The mean comparison showed that the minimum drying time and the maximum speed drying were related to the microwave (800watts). The highest amount of ascorbic acid (385.72 µg/mg), protein (19.72%), total phenol (47.19 mg GA per 1 g dry matter), total flavonoids (50.96 mg quercetin per 1 g dry matter) as well as antioxidant activity (76.02%) was observed in the fresh plant and then in the oven -drying (55°C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: COVID-19 is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. There is an urgent need to discover antiviral drugs for better performance against new strains of coronaviruses (CoVs) due to the rapid spread of the disease despite scientific advances in vaccine development. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of quercetin and its analogues on the COVID-19 Mpro enzyme. Material & Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, the threedimensional structures of quercetin analogues (20 compounds), standard drugs (ritonavir and lopinavir), and the COVID-19 Mpro enzyme were obtained from PubChem and PDB databases for bioinformatics study, respectively. Molecular docking studies of the compounds on the Mpro were performed using MOE-2014 software. Afterward, the physicochemical properties and biological activity of the compounds were predicted using Swiss ADME, PASS, and Swiss Target Prediction software. (Ethic code: IR.SKUMS.REC.1399.117) Findings: The findings of the present study showed that the most important bonds involved in drug-receptor binding are hydrogen, hydrophobic, and π-π interaction bonds. The best docking results were obtained for Baicalein, Genistein, Naringenin, and Quercetin compounds with strong binding energy (-12.83 to -13.54 kcal/mol), compared to ritonavir and lopinavir. These compounds have a greater tendency to bind to the catalytic amino acids His41 and Cys145 and other key amino acids of the active site of the COVID-19 Mpro enzyme. Discussion & Conclusion: Based on the results of bioinformatics studies, quercetin analogues had more effective inhibition than standard chemical drugs due to their suitable placement in the active site of the main protease enzyme of COVID-19 and can be good candidates for in vitro and in vivo studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cancer is one of the most common diseases throughout the world. One out of eight deaths in the world happen as a result of cancer. Cancer is the third cause of mortality in Iran. Colon cancer is the fourth cause of mortality in the world and 1.2 million people with the disease are being diagnosed annually. Methods: The method of data collection was through review and original articles. Results: About 8% of overall mortality rate is associated with colon cancer. Conclusion: Colon cancer has considerably increased in Iran over the last three decades and it is the second common cancer in Iran according to the annual report of the National Cancer Institute of Iran. The prevalence of colon cancer in Iran is estimated to be 8 out of 100.000 people. 3641 new cases of cancer are reported annually in the country and 2262 people die every year as a result of colon cancer. The prevalence of the disease in Iranian population is equal to 22%.

The aim of this study was to label quercetin as a natural flavonoid compound with technetium-99m and to study its biological distribution in different tissues of C57 mice bearing melanoma B16F10 cells for tumor diagnosis. Quercetin labeling was performed with technetium-99m at 1.5 mg quercetin and 40 μg SnCL2 at room temperature and pH about 5. Labeling yield was evaluated using TLC in acetone and water / acetonitrile as solvents. Also, in animal study, the tissue activity of various organs including heart, lung, stomach, intestine, liver, kidney, blood, spleen, muscle, and tumor were measured through gamma counter. Radiochemical purity above 95% and radiochemical stability of 90% at one hour were observed. The results of biological distribution of the labeled compound showed the highest radioactivity uptake in liver, kidney, intestine and tumor (2.2 ± 0.17 at 2 h post injection) tissues. Quercetin labeled through direct method with high radiochemical purity can be used as a candidate for diagnostic radiotracer.

Background: About angiogenesis, metastasis of breast cancer and exercise, Many studies have been done in recent decades to better understand of regulatory mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the Interactive effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and quercetin supplementation (Q) on the expression of key angiogenic factors in tumor tissue of mouse with breast cancer. Methods: Twenty-four female Balb/C mouse were injected with estrogen receptor-dependent breast cancer cells MC4L2 and then divided into three groups of tumor (T), tumor + of high-intensity interval training (TH) and tumor + high-intensity interval training + quercetin (THQ). The TH and THQ groups ran the treadmill 3 days a week for 6 weeks and each session 1 hour. The THQ group received 110 mg / kg quercetin solution for 6 weeks, 3 days a week with training. After completion of the work, the mouse were sacrificed and their tumor tissue removed and frozen in liquid nitrogen And stored at -70 ° C. Expression of TIE-2 and VEGF-A genes was measured by REAL TIME-PCR. ΔCt, ΔΔCt, and Fold change were calculated with the relevant statistical tests at the significant level (P

Background and Objectives: Ischemia-Reperfusion injury, followed by the production of oxygen free radicals and oxidative stress are the main limitations of ovarian tissue transplantation. We aimed to investigate the effects of quercetin as an antioxidant on the quality of autotransplanted mouse ovaries. Methods In total, 36 female NMRI mice were divided into 3 groups of control, autografted, and autografted + quercetin (50 mg/kg/day). Treatment was performed one day before till 7 days after transplantation and 28 days after transplantation; ovaries were removed for stereological assessments. Serum samples were collected on days 7 and 28 post-transplantation to measure the level of malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, estradiol, and progesterone. The obtained data were analyzed using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test at the significance level of P

Vaccinium arctostaphylos L., belonging to the Ericaceae family, is an important medicinal plant, which its leaves and fruits are widely used to treat high blood pressure and diabetes diseases. Advances in plant cell and tissue culture techniques have increased the utility of plants as a renewable resource for valuable compounds. This study was performed to investigate the effect of yeast extract on the growth of nodal explants, biochemical characteristics and the amount of secondary metabolites under in vitro cultures of Whortleberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.). The surface sterilized explants were cultured on MS medium containing different treatments including control (without plant growth regulators), 2 mg/ L BAP, 0.1 mg/ L IBA and yeast extract (concentrations of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/L). The utilization of yeast extract in concentrations of 500 to 2000 mg/L did not have a positive effect on the number of leaves per explant and survival rate of explants, but, significantly decreased the shoot growth from the explants. HPLC analysis showed that utilization of 1000 mg/L yeast extract significantly increased the amount of rutin in leaves of Vaccinium arctostaphylos in vitro cultures. So, the highest amount of rutin (130.95 mg/L) was obtained in the MS medium containing 2 mg/L BAP+ 0.1 mg/L IBA + 100 mg/L yeast extract, which was 2.7 times higher than that of control. Yeast extract had no significant effect on the amount of quercetin. Therefore, according to the results of this study, yeast extract stimulant can be used to increase the routine production in V. arctostaphylos cultures.

This study investigated the total phenols and flavonoids content, antioxidant potential (based on DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging methods), and antibacterial mechanism (based on disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration) of ethanolic extract of Mentha aquatica. The extract contained significant levels of bioactive phenolic compounds (total phenol: 88.47 ± 0.32 mg gallic acid per gram of extract; total flavonoids: 39.15 ± 0.25 mg quercetin per gram of extract) with acceptable ability in scavenging DPPH (58.50 ± 0.57%) and ABTS (51.44 ± 0.32%)free radicals. The growth of pathogenic and spoilage bacteria, especially Gram - positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis ) in comparison with Gram -negative pairs (Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis) was strongly inhibited by the plant extract. In general, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis were the most sensitive and resistant microbial strains to the ethanolic extract of M. aquatica, respectively. The present study showed that the ethanolic extract of M. aquatica with significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties can be used to develop new natural preservatives for food and medicinal purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangifera indica L. belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. The various organs of this plant, especially the leaves, contain valuable flavonoid compounds that are used in the treatment of diabetes. In the present study, to evaluate the amounts of rutin and quercetin in the leaves of different M. indica genotypes in the habitats of southern Iran, four major habitats including Manoojan and Roodan from Kerman province, Minab from Hormozgan province, and Bushehr port from Bushehr province were selected. From each habitat, 10 mature and healthy trees were selected and from each tree, three groups of leaf samples were taken from a height of two meters. Extraction of dried mango leaves was performed by methanol-acetic acid solvent and injected into HPLC for analysis. The amounts of rutin and quercetin in 40 samples of M. indica extracts were determined. Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design using SPSS statistical software and cluster analysis was performed by Ward method to group the populations and genotypes. There was a statistically significant difference (P <0.05) between the four M. indica populations in terms of both rutin and quercetin. The highest levels of rutin and quercetin were obtained in Manoujan (124.03 ppm) and Bushehr (6.05 ppm) populations, respectively. Cluster analysis divided the four populations into three independent groups: populations Rudan and Minab in group 1, Bushehr in group 2, and Manoujan in group 3. Evaluation of phytochemical diversity can provide valuable information in the management of M. indica germplasm and be useful in identifying suitable populations for different breeding purposes in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Recent studies on the treatment of melanoma, have focused on designing efficient methods with low side effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of quercetin- omega-3 and chrysin- omega-3 complexes on proliferation and apoptosis in the A-375 melanoma cell line. Materials and Methods: The cells were cultured and then were treated with different concentrations of quercetin- omega-3 and chrysin- omega-3 complexes. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the effects of the above compounds on the rate of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Results: Chrysin- omega-3 and quercetin- omega-3 complexes in the experimental concentrations, inhibited cell growth in a time and concentration-dependent manner. No significant changes in cell growth rate were observed after 24 and 48 hours of treatment with 0-125μM of chrysin- omega-3 complex. However, concentrations of 150, 175, and 200μM chrysin- omega-3 complex significantly decreased the growth of melanoma cells after 24 and 48h (p

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers. Herbal compounds have been considered for the treatment of cancer due to anticancer effects. Peel of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) has antioxidant and anticancer properties due to its phenolic compounds. Quercetin is a herbal flavonoid that can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. The present study compared the anti-proliferative effects of pomegranate’s fruit peel extract and quercetin on the calu-6 human lung carcinoma cell line and their co-effects in inhibiting the proliferation and migration of cancer cells. Material and Methods: Calu-6 cell line was purchased from Pasteur institute and cultured in RPMI1640 medium containing 10% FBS and 1% antibiotic. To determine the survival rate of t-cells, MTT assay was performed. Type of cell death was determined by flow cytometry, and scratch test was used to determine the migration rate of the cells. Results: The results showed that pomegranate fruit peel extract and quercetin inhibited the proliferation of lung cancer cells. Also, quercetin and pomegranate extract induced apoptosis in calu-6 cells individually and simultaneously so that the level of expression of annexin-V in quercetin and pomegranate peel extract was 18.20% and 15.59%, respectively, and increased by 25.51% during the co-treatment that difference was significant at P

In this study, the cytotoxic effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Sedum album L. on human stomach cancer cell line (AGS) and breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) were evaluated by MTT, BrdU and TUNEL assays. The results demonstrated that both extracts had antiproliferative and apoptotic effects in a dose-dependent manner. The MTT assay data revealed that the AGS cell underwent more cytotoxicity in comparison with the MCF-7 cell. It also revealed that ethanolic extract was more potent than aqueous extract. The BrdU assay results showed that the proliferation of AGS and MCF-7 cells was reduced to 50% and 43%, respectively, at the highest concentration of the aqueous extract. In addition, the ethanolic extract reduced the proliferation of AGS and MCF-7 cells to 75% and 60%, respectively. The AGS and MCF-7 cells underwent 52% and 12% apoptotic death upon treatment by the ethanolic extract as TUNEL assay showed. The aqueous extract induced 28% and 25% apoptosis in the AGS and MCF-7 cells, respectively. Both inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis are desirable strategies for cancer treatment among researchers. Identification of S. album compounds and analyzing their effects in animal model of cancer can help us with understanding its anti-cancer properties.

Introdution: Dexamethasone is used in inflammatory disease, leukemia and nausea, which increases the oxygen free radicals in the testis as a consequence. The aim of this study was to study the protective effect of Quercetin as a plant flavonoid and strong antioxidant on testis histological changes and Spermatogenesis indexes in adult mice following treatment with Dexamethasone. Methods: 24 adult male mice (NMRI) were divided into 4 groups (n=6): control, Dexamethasone (7mg/kg/day), Quercetin (50mg/kg/day) and Dexamethasone + Quercetin. 7 days after intra peritoneal treatment, the right testis were removed, fixed, sectioned, processed and stained with Heidenhain’s Azan method, testis histological changes and spermatogenesis indexes were studied by stereological techniques. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the means were considered significantly different (P0.05). Conclusion: Our results indicated that Quercetin as a strong antioxidant can reduce the destructive effects of dexamethasone on the histology of testis tissue and Spermatogenesis indexes in mice. Therefore, Quercetin is suggested as a therapeutic supplement in regimens containing Dexamethasone

Background and Objectives: Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid, which causes oxidative stress in the testicular tissue. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of quercetin as a powerful antioxidant on sperm parameters and serum biochemical factors in mature adult mice following the treatment with dexamethasone. Methods: In this experimental study, 24 mature adult male NMRI mice, were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=6), including control group, group received dexamethasone (dose, 7mg/kg/day), group received quercetin (dose, 50mg/kg/day) and group received Dexamethasone+quercetin. Seven days after the treatment and intraperitoneal injection, the serum samples were collected to measure the testosterone level, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde level. The left testis was used to measure daily sperm production (DSP) and left caudal epididymis was cut in the Ham’s F10 medium, then the released spermatozoa were used to analyze the sperm parameters and chromatin quality. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test at a significance level of p

Background: Medicinal herbs have been used for managing various diseases for many years. Quercetin is a member of flavonoid family with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the beneficial potential of quercetin in ameliorating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, EAE was induced in male Wistar rats by guinea pig spinal cord homogenate and complete Freund’s adjuvant. Then, the rats were allocated into three equal groups (n=10). Quercetin administration (10 mg/kg daily) initiated on day 12 post-immunization, when the rats developed a disability score. The brains and blood samples were collected on day 36 and used for next experiments. Results: Quercetin therapy led to a better outcome in EAE rats compared to EAE rat without treatment. Myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide levels in the sera and the lipid peroxidation level in the brain tissues of EAE rats were significantly increased in EAE rats compared to normal control rats (P

Background and Aim: Hypercholesterolemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis that the use of medicinal plants with minimal side effects is very important in the treatment of it. In this study, comparative evaluation of the effect of hydroalcoholic extract and quercetin of Otostegia persica Boiss with atorvastatin on ABC A1 gene expression in hypercholesterolemic male Wistar rats was carried out. Materials and Methods: Forty male wistar rats with about 180gr weight randomly individed into five groups of eight: 3 experimental groups, 1 sham group and 1 control group. The experimental and sham groups received a high-fat diet with 2% cholesterol (through gavage) for 40 days. The experimental groups were treated (were fed) separately with 40 mg/kg/day atorvastatin, 25 mg/kg/day quercetin and 25 mg/kg/day hydroalcoholic extract of Otostegia persica Boiss for 28 days. Sham group received daily 1 mg/kg saline water during this period. In the end, the expression of ABC A1 gene was determined by Real-Time PCR in leukocytes and serum lipids were measured by photometric method. Ethical Considerations: This study with research ethics code B/29/5/1/1799 has been approved by committee for ethics in biomedical research at Kashan university of medical sciensec on July 31, 2016. Findings: The hydroalcoholic extract and quercetin of Otostegia persica Boiss and atorvastatin significantly increased ABC A1 gene expression in three experimental groups {(1.14 ± 0.09) ,(1.18 ± 0.03),(1.11 ± 0.03) respectively} realated to control group(1.00 ± 0.011) (p

Mitochondria plays a major role in maintaining homeostasis of heart cells. Mitochondria produce ATP and is the main intracellular source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can cause oxidative damage. Free oxygen radicals and oxidative damage are associated with cardiovascular pathology. Antioxidant defense can play an essential role in preventing oxidative damage by controlling free oxygen radicals. The current review study discusses latest scientific findings about cardioprotective effects of polyphenols on mitochondria, including resveratrol, quercetin, and curcumin. Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a natural polyphenol compound that is found in many fruits and vegetables such as berries and red grapes. It improves mitochondrial function by inducing gene expression of oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial biogenesis. Quercetin has beneficial effects on human heart and prevents oxidative damage by preventing LDL cholesterol oxidation and endothelial vasodilatation effects. Curcumin is a chemical compound (1,7-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-1,6-heptadine-3,5-dione) and is the active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa). Curcumin protects the cardiomyocytes from ischemic injury caused by reperfusion by reducing oxidative stress. It improves mitochondrial function of the cardiomyocytes by decreasing free oxygen radicals and improving the function of oxidative phosphorylation. The role of polyphenol compounds in preventing oxidative damage and cardioprotection should be considered beyond foods and could be investigated as lead molecules in discovery and development of new drugs.

Background: Anzaroot is a manna produced from Astragalus sarcocola Dymock (Family Leguminosae) that is widely distributed in Fars, Kerman, Baluchestan and Hormozgan in Iran. Since the study of the physicochemical properties and quality control (QC) of herbal materials results in the validation and standardization for clinical uses, in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, it is necessary to carry out for Anzaroot which has indication in traditional medicine. Methods: Anzaroot was identified and determinated scientific name by a systematic specialist after purchasing from Niak pharmaceutical co. in gorgan. Physicochemical and pharmacognostical properties of Anzaroot have been determinated According to the WHO guidlines. Results: Anzaroot is a very bitter, crisp and fragile manna and non-stick in dry state, which is seen as separate binary grains under the microscope. The moisture content, foreign matter, sucrose content, total ash and watersoluble ash were reported 5.25 ± 0.2, 2.8 ± 0.2, 12.09 ± 0.04, 9.8 ± 0.5 and 2.9±0.15, respectively. It has significant foaming index, 72% Solublity in water and less than 50% in 96% ethanol and not swelling index. The levels of lead, mercury and cadmium were 0.0006, 0.0002 and 0.0007 ppm and total flavonoid content was reported 18.61 μg/ml with respect to standard Quercetin at 415 nm. Conclusion: This study can be a novel idea for the discovery or development of pharmaceutical products based on Anzaroot of Iran and its diverse therapeutic properties, such as the common cold, contusion, and bone fracture in traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids are the most abundant bioactive polyphenolic compounds having a plant origin and the most important property of them is their antioxidant activity. Since the knowledge of the solubility of bioactive materials in various solvents is very important for pharmaceutical researches and industrial applications, in this work, the solubility of natural flavonoid quercetin has been measured quantitatively. This study has been performed in binary solvent mixtures containing water and 2-propanol (0-100% v/v), at constant temperature 25 °C by using the saturation technique. From solubility data, the preferential solvation parameters of this flavonoid were determined by the reverse Kirkwood-Buff integral method in different compositions of the solvent mixture studied. The results show that the flavonoid solubility increases with increasing percentage of organic solvent and also in high compositions of the organic solvent, solvation extent of this compound become more than water-rich region. Finally, the results obtained have been discussed based on solvent-solute interactions.

Background: Hypertension induces cardiac hypertrophy. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension induced cardiac hypertrophy. Exercise and Quercetin (as activators of Sirtuins) reduce oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with Quercetin supplement on oxidative stress and level of concentric pathologic hypertrophy in patients with hypertension and coronary heart disease after angioplasty. Methods: The present study was conducted experimentally randomized, placebocontrolled and double‑blind on 24 men with hypertension and coronary heart disease after angioplasty aged 40-60 since years May to August 2019 at the Exercise Physiology department of Sport Sciences Faculty, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of HIIT+quercetin (n=12) and HIIT+placebo (n=12) and were followed during 8 weeks of high-intensity interval training (30 seconds of activity and 30 seconds of rest) and quercetin consumption (250 mgr of quercetin supplement or placebo pills daily). Echocardiography was used to investigate morphological factors such as posterior wall dimension (PWd) and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDd). Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by colorimetric method. Results: The results showed that MDA and The relative wall thickness (RWT) decreased after 8 weeks in HIIT+ supplement and HIIT+placebo groups and TAC level and LVEDd increased significantly (P<0.05). PWd decreased significantly only in the exercise+supplement group (P<0.05). No significant difference between groups in any other variables was detected (P>0.05). Conclusion: Eight weeks of high-intensity interval training alone or with quercetin by reducing oxidative stress(increasing total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) reduces level of concentric pathologic hypertrophy in men with hypertension and coronary heart disease after angioplasty. So that high-intensity interval training with quercetin supplementation has relatively more effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the new methods for extracting natural antioxidants from plant tissues is ultrasound extraction. In this study, the method of extraction of bath ultrasound with ethanol-water solvent (50:50) and (80:20) at a temperature of 30 and 40 ° C and 10 and 20 minutes was used to extract the extract of the leaves of the zoo. Became The total phenolic and flavonoid compounds, DPPH and antioxidant potency in beta-carotene-linoleic acid model of each extract were measured by spectrophotometric method and antioxidant activity of the extracts by oxidative stability index (OSI). Based on the results, The extract (80-40-20) with the highest effective compounds had the highest phenolic compounds (193.3 ± 5.53) mg/g extract per gram of extract) and flavonoid (40.63±2.36 mg / 40 mg quercetin in Gram of extract) and the highest amount in antioxidant assays (DPPH radical inhibition and beta-carotene-linoleic acid coloration assay) and the lowest I C50 showed the best antioxidant performance. In the Ransted test, treatment (80-40-20) with a concentration of 200 ppm showed the highest oxidative stability of canola oil. Therefore, the most suitable treatment was to obtain the best treatment result (80-40 -20) was selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Quercetin is a flavonoid compound in most plants that due to its pre-apoptotic and anticancer properties can increase the toxicity of drugs such as chemotherapy drugs. The study aimed to fabricate and characterize the niosomal system containing quercetin to increase its therapeutic properties. Methods: In this in vitro study, with thin-film hydration, niosomal carriers containing quercetin were prepared and after sonication and size reduction, filtration and free drug separation were performed. Subsequently, the amount of quercetin was loaded and the process of quercetin release from the niosomal nanosystem was investigated. The nanoparticles were also evaluated for size, zeta potential, particle morphology, and chemical interactions between the niosomal system and quercetin. Results: The encapsulation efficiency of quercetin in the niosomal carriers was 64.49±2.3%, the size and zeta potential of the nanocarrier before quercetin loading was 153.8 nm and -9.5 mV respectively, and after quercetin loading was 170 nm and -1.6 mV, respectively. The pattern of drug release indicates that overall quercetin release was slow and 95% of quercetin was released from the niosome within 72 hours. Electron microscopy images and FT-IR results also show that the niosomal system was formed and that no chemical interaction was observed between the niosomal system and quercetin. Conclusion: The results of the present study show that nano-carriers containing quercetin have appropriate physicochemical properties. Therefore, this niosomal system can be a suitable carrier for quercetin delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Salicylic acid is an antioxidant which has been used in recent years to increases the resistance of plants to deal with stresses. In this study different concentrations (0.1, 1.5, 3, 6 and 9 mM) of salicylic acid were investigated on the quantity of fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll, carotenoid, malon di aldehyde, flavonoids, rutin and quercetin in pepper (Capsicum annuum). After 5 weeks, plants were treated with different concentrations (zero, 0.1, 1.5, 3, 6 and 9 mM) of salicylic acid. The results showed that concentrations of 0.7, 1.5 and 3 mM of SA increased fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll a, b, total and carotenoid content, but concentrations 6 and 9 mM of SA decreased fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll a, b, total and carotenoid content. Concentrations of 1.5 and 3 mM of SA decreased malon dialdehyd and other aldehyde content, but concentrations 6 and 9 mM of SA increased malon dialdehyd and other aldehyde content. Concentrations of 0.1, 0.7, 1.5 and 3 mM SA caused significant increase in total flavonoids in treated leaf. The results showed that under our experimental conditions different concentrations (0.7, 1.5 and 3mM) of salicylic acid increased rutin and quercetin content. In general, according to the results, treatment of salicylic acid in low concentrations has positive effects and high concentrations has negative effects on the growth of the pepper plant.

Background: Curcumin and quercetinare two natural substances with low side effects and has antioxidant activity, anti-diabetic and strong anti-cancer and other health benefits. The aim of this study was the evaluation of these two compounds as anti-cancer agents and their toxicity on murine 4T1 breast cancer cells by MTT method. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, after cells culturing in 96-well plate 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 micromolar concentrations of curcumin and quercetin were added to the cells and after incubation during 24 and 48 hours, cell viability were evaluated by MTT method. one way-Anova was used to analysis data. p

Industrial and environmental pollution, excessive iron supplementation and blood transfusion are among the factors that may cause iron toxicity. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the mechanisms influencing or protecting against iron toxicity. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of quercetin as an antioxidant on hepatotoxicity induced by iron oxide and nano-iron oxide. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 30 Wistar rats (five groups): A) control group, B) nano-iron oxide, C) iron oxide, D) nano-iron oxide plus quercetin, and E) iron oxide plus quercetin. Nano-iron oxide and iron oxide were administered in daily doses of 20mg/kg, and quercetin in daily doses of 100mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection for 15 days. Correspondingly, the rats were then euthanized and their liver tissue was transferred to the pathology lab in 10% formalin. Samples were examined by conventional histopathological techniques using the Hematoxylin & Eosin, and Perls’ Prussian blue staining methods, and observed under the optical microscope. Results: The findings showed that nano-iron oxide and iron oxide can lead to inflammation in hepatic lobules and portal triads, sinusoidal dilatation, abnormal proliferation of the hepatocytes and Kupffer cells, and some hepatocyte degeneration. Simultaneous quercetin treatment was found to reduce the histopathological effects of metal particles, particularly iron oxide particles. Moreover, samples were tested for signs of bile retention, fibrosis and necrosis, but the results were negative. Conclusion: The present study confirmed the anti-inflammatory and protective effects of quercetin as an herbal antioxidant on hepatotoxicity induced by nano-iron oxide and iron oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria plays a major role in maintaining homeostasis of heart cells. Mitochondria produce ATP and is the main intracellular source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can cause oxidative damage. Free oxygen radicals and oxidative damage are associated with cardiovascular pathology. Antioxidant defense can play an essential role in preventing oxidative damage by controlling free oxygen radicals. The current review study discusses latest scientific findings about cardioprotective effects of polyphenols on mitochondria, including resveratrol, quercetin, and curcumin. Resveratrol (3,5,4′- trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a natural polyphenol compound that is found in many fruits and vegetables such as berries and red grapes. It improves mitochondrial function by inducing gene expression of oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial biogenesis. Quercetin has beneficial effects on human heart and prevents oxidative damage by preventing LDL cholesterol oxidation and endothelial vasodilatation effects. Curcumin is a chemical compound (1,7-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-1,6-heptadine-3,5- dione) and is the active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa). Curcumin protects the cardiomyocytes from ischemic injury caused by reperfusion by reducing oxidative stress. It improves mitochondrial function of the cardiomyocytes by decreasing free oxygen radicals and improving the function of oxidative phosphorylation. The role of polyphenol compounds in preventing oxidative damage and cardioprotection should be considered beyond foods and could be investigated as lead molecules in discovery and development of new drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medicinal herbs have been used for managing various diseases for many years. Quercetin is a member of flavonoid family with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the beneficial potential of quercetin in ameliorating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, EAE was induced in male Wistar rats by guinea pig spinal cord homogenate and complete Freund’s adjuvant. Then, the rats were allocated into three equal groups (n=10). Quercetin administration (10 mg/kg daily) initiated on day 12 post-immunization, when the rats developed a disability score. The brains and blood samples were collected on day 36 and used for next experiments. Results: Quercetin therapy led to a better outcome in EAE rats compared to EAE rat without treatment. Myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide levels in the sera and the lipid peroxidation level in the brain tissues of EAE rats were significantly increased in EAE rats compared to normal control rats (P<0.05). Serum level of uric acid insignificantly decreased in EAE rats compared to normal control rats (P<0.05). Conclusion: It appears that quercetin is a promising strategy to be added to the treatment protocol of MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Hypercholesterolemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis that the use of medicinal plants with minimal side effects is very important in the treatment of it. In this study, comparative evaluation of the effect of hydroalcoholic extract and quercetin of Otostegia persica Boiss with atorvastatin on ABC A1 gene expression in hypercholesterolemic male Wistar rats was carried out. Materials and Methods: Forty male wistar rats with about 180gr weight randomly individed into five groups of eight: 3 experimental groups, 1 sham group and 1 control group. The experimental and sham groups received a high-fat diet with 2% cholesterol (through gavage) for 40 days. The experimental groups were treated (were fed) separately with 40 mg/kg/day atorvastatin, 25 mg/kg/day quercetin and 25 mg/kg/day hydroalcoholic extract of Otostegia persica Boiss for 28 days. Sham group received daily 1 mg/kg saline water during this period. In the end, the expression of ABC A1 gene was determined by Real-Time PCR in leukocytes and serum lipids were measured by photometric method. Ethical Considerations: This study with research ethics code B/29/5/1/1799 has been approved by committee for ethics in biomedical research at Kashan university of medical sciensec on July 31, 2016. Findings: The hydroalcoholic extract and quercetin of Otostegia persica Boiss and atorvastatin significantly increased ABC A1 gene expression in three experimental groups {(1.14 ± 0.09) ,(1.18 ± 0.03),(1.11 ± 0.03) respectively} realated to control group(1.00 ± 0.011) (p Quercetin also was more effective than atorvastatin in increasing of ABC A1 gene expression (p Quercetin and hydroalcoholic extract of Otostegia persica Boiss have increased effect on ABC A1 gene expression in hypercholesterolemic male Wistar rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & aim: In traditional medicine, medicinal plants containing flavonoid compounds were used for several years in the treatment of various diseases. Quercetin is one of the flavonoid composition family that has a maximum antioxidant flavonoid content. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological features of rats peripheral blood neutrophils treated with quercetin. Methods: In the present experimental study, the rats peripheral blood neutrophils was isolated and then teated with various concentrations of quercetin (0, 5, 10 and 20 µg/ml). The metabolic activity, phagocytosis capabilities, germicidal and respiratory burst of neutrophils were measured. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the analysis. Results: The results demonestrated that the respiratory burst of neutrophils treated by quercitine was significantly increased at minimum concentrations of 10 micrograms per ml. Simmilary, the phagocytic ability of neutrophils was significantly increased at minimum concentrations of 10 micrograms per ml. Albith, the phagocytic ability of neutrophils was increasesd in 5 micrograms per ml, howevet this finding didn’t show any significant change.Moreover, the application of quercetin at minimum concentrations of 10 micrograms per ml lead to a significant reduction in killing and survival of neutrophils in the treatment group compared to that of the control group (P

Background & Objectives: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. Incorrect pattern of gene expression involved in epigenetic including APOBEC3B, DNMT-1, and TET-1 can develop breast cancer. Quercetin is a natural flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-cancer properties that have been reported in other studies. To investigate the effect mechanism of quercetin, this study examined the effect of quercetin on the expression of genes which were referred to in two classes of breast cancer cell lines. Materials & Methods: Cell lines including MCF-7 and MDA-MB-453 in separate boxes in the control group and the treated groups with two dosages of 50 and 100 mm of quercetin were cultured for 24 and 48 hours, respectively. RNA was extracted from the cells and then was converted to cDNA. Real-time PCR was used for APOBEC3B, DNMT_1, and TET-1 expression. Results: The results showed that quercetin had conflicting results after 24 hours in two cell lines as there was a decrease in the gene expression of APQBEC3B and an increase in that of DNMT-1 in MCF-7 cell line. In contrast, the cell line of MDA-MB-453, APOBEC3B, and DNMT-1 gene expression increased. While the 48-hour results showed that quercetin reduced the gene expression of APOBEC3B and DNMT-1 and increased that of the TET-1 in both cell lines. Conclusion: Due to the satisfactory effects of quercetin on breast cancer cells after 48 hours, these effects can be probably applied through epigenetic mechanisms. However, the final decision needs further investigation.

Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus is common endocrine disease cause learning and memory impairment. This study was done to evaluate the effect of quercetin on learning and memory in STZ-induced diabetic rats was investigated. Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups: control, quercetin - treated control, diabetic and quercetin - treated diabetic (10 and 20 mg/kg/bw, intraperitoneally) for 14 days. Induction of diabetes was performed using 60 mg/kg/bw of streptozotosin, interapritonally. Passive avoidance and Y-maze tests were used for the evaluation of learning and memory. Results: In passive avoidance learning, there was no significant difference in initial latency between diabetic and treated - diabetic groups. The mean of step latency in control group (383.57±19.26) significantly reduced to 128.86±10.38 in diabetic group (P

مقدمه: استئوآرتریت (OA یا Osteoarthritis) یکی از شایع‌ترین اختلالات عضلانی- اسکلتی است که می‌تواند به درد مزمن و ناتوانی شدید بیمار منجر شود و پیش‌بینی شده است با افزایش سن جمعیت، شیوع آن در آینده به طور چشمگیری افزایش یابد. روش‌ها: در تحقیق تجربی حاضر، 30 سر موش صحرایی نر نژاد ویستار (میانگین وزن 1 ± 173 گرم و سن 8 هفته) به طور تصادفی به 5 گروه 6تایی شامل گروه‌های شاهد سالم، شاهد پایه، کورستین، شنا و نیز کورستین + شنا تقسیم شدند. برای ایجاد استئوآرتریت از تزریق درون مفصلی، مونو سدیم یدواستات (lµ 50) در زانوی راست نمونه‌ها استفاده شد. پروتکل تمرینی این پژوهش شامل شنا با شدت متوسط و به مدت 28 روز بود. پس از اتمام دوره، حیوانات کشته شدند و مفاصل زانوی هر دو پای آن‌‌ها مورد بررسی هیستوپاتولوژیکی قرار گرفت. از آزمون آماری One-way ANOVA (One-way analysis of variance) (050/0 ≥ P) و سپس آزمون تعقیبی Tukey به منظور تجزیه و تحلیل کمی یافته‌ها استفاده شد. یافته‌ها: در رابطه با شاخص نسبت عمق ضایعه تفاوت معنی‌داری بین گروه کورستین (002/0 = P)، شنا (001/0 = P) و کورستین + شنا (001/0 = P) با گروه شاهد پایه وجود داشت (001/0 = P). همچنین در رابطه با شاخص عرض کل ناحیه‌ی تخریب شده و عرض ناحیه‌ی تخریب شده به طور معنی‌دار، تفاوت معنی‌داری بین تمامی گروه‌ها با گروه شاهد پایه وجود داشت (001/0 = P). نتیجه‌گیری: مصرف مکمل کورستین و تمرین شنا با شدت متوسط، هر یک به تنهایی و به صورت ترکیبی می‌توانند اثر مثبتی در بهبود علایم استئوآرتریت زانوی موش‌های صحرایی داشته باشند.

Background and Aim: Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells from attacks of free radicals. Lack of balance between antioxidants and free radicals results in oxidative stress, which ultimately results in cell damage. The effects of flavonoids are not related solely to their antioxidant properties, but also to their effects on cellular signal pathways. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Quercetin on the structure of the third region of FGFR2b kinase using fluorescence method. Materials and Methods: Using SDS-PAGE, expression of the protein was determined and its constant concentration was used in the present study. Using different concentrations of Quercetin in the presence of a constant concentration of pure protein, the fluorescence spectrum and chemical denaturation were evaluated. Results: In the last studies, SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified proteins had confirmed that no contamination and unwanted bacterial proteins were co-eluted with the protein. Studying the spectrum of various concentrations of Quercetin in the presence of constant concentration of proteins showed a decrease in the intensity of the release; and also, the chemical denaturation changed the third structure of the kinase domain. Conclusion: The tertiary structural change of FGFR2b kinase domain represents a conformational change that may have a critical role in signal transduction cascade. Thus, this molecular transduction inconsistency can lead to cellular transduction complication; and as a result, inhibit the development and multiplication of cancerous cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]