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Flavonoids expected to help neurological disorders
Published September 25th, 2008
Flavonoids from vegetables, fruits, and teas, are expected to prevent or help control degenerative diseases.
Recently, flavonoids have been characterized as neuroprotectants in the treatment of various neurological disorders.
A study on mice was designed to investigate protective effects of quercetin, a bioflavonoid, against acute immobilization-induced behavioral and biochemical alterations in mice.
Mice were immobilized for a period of 6 hours. Quercetin (20 and 40 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 30 minutes before subjecting the animals to acute stress. Behavioral tests and biochemical analysis were subsequently performed.
Acute immobilization stress for a period of 6 hours caused severe anxiety, analgesia, and impaired motor activity in the mice. Biochemical analyses revealed an increase in malondialdehyde and nitrite levels as well as partial depletion of reduced glutathione and catalase activity in immobilization-stressed brain. Behavioral and biochemical parameters were significantly altered as compared to naive mice.
Pretreatment with quercetin (20 and 40 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reversed immobilized stress-induced anxiety and analgesia and reduced locomotor activity. Biochemically, quercetin treatment attenuated malondialdehyde accumulation and nitrite activity and restored the depleted reduced glutathione and catalase activity. Neuroprotective effects of quercetin were significantly improved as compared to control stressed animals.
Quercetin is a flavonol found in foods, such as onions, garlic broccoli, apples, red wine, tea and coffee.
