Role of quercetin in cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease constitutes a major public health
concern in industrialized nations. Over recent decades, a large body of
evidence has accumulated indicating that oxidative stress induced free
radicals play a critical role in cellular processes implicated in
atherosclerosis and many other heart diseases. However a diet high in
antioxidants is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
The compound quercetin is a dietary antioxidant with a polyphenolic
structure that is present in many foods, such as onion, apples, wine and
tea. An increased intake of quercetin has been correlated with a
decrease in the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Quercetin has been
reported to exhibit a wide range of biological and pharmacological
effects in animals and man besides its antioxidative and free radical
scavenging actions. This paper reviews various steps of oxidative stress
mediated atherogenesis and their signaling pathways and also
emphasizes the role of quercetin in controlling oxidative stress and
reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: Oxidative stress, free radicals, cardiovascular disease,
atherosclerosis, signaling pathway, Quercetin.

Internet Journal of Medical Update Vol. 3 (1) 2008: pp. 31-49