Therapeutic Effects of Quercetin in the Management of Age-Related Diseases and Disorders

Abstract

Quercetin is a polyphenol derived from many fruits and vegetables which is known for its antioxidant, anti-hypertensive and anti-inflammatory properties. This comes under the class flavonoids. Polyphenols consists of many phenol structures in it and is not synthesized in the human body. These polyphenols exhibit its anti-oxidative effects by stimulating the anti-oxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and catalase. Quercetin is present in many plant based substances such as onion, apple, broccoli, hypericum, cherries, green tea and etc. Quercetin as many therapeutic effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging. It also plays significant role in many diseases and disorders such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, anxiety, depression, neurodegenerative disorders, Huntington’s disease and cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, etc. Quercetin up regulates the enzyme Sirtuin 1, is an enzyme which is also present in many plant based substances. This Sirtuin 1 also plays a pivotal role in the many age-related diseases and disorders. The primary objective of this article is to study the therapeutic effects of quercetin and its role in controlling the major age-related diseases and disorders based on several studies. This article also highlights the potential bio enhancer property of quercetin in many class of drugs such as anti-viral, anti-hypertensive, anti-fungal, anti-tuberculosis and anti-cancer drugs.