While we live in a world where we usually want to kill two birds with one stone, our pharmaceutical industry seems to target single mechanisms of action for their new drugs. This may make for easier testing and development of new drugs, but having substances which act in a variety of beneficial ways is more in line with the natural world of herbal therapies. Interestingly, as the medical world searches for answers to autoimmune disease beyond the next “biologic” (meaning engineered antibody) drug, researchers are discovering some intriguing effects of herbs like quercetin. The focus article goes into more details, but this summary helps you understand why we need to look further into the natural products that God has given us.
The polyphenol flavonoid quercetin can be acquired in smaller amounts by eating a variety of fruits or vegetables like asparagus, apples, chokeberries, and cranberries as well as some herbs like dill, cilantro, and radish leaves. Supplement sourced dosages range from 1 to 500mg. Either way, they have been shown by references in the article to have a wide variety of beneficials effects on the brain, immune system, inflammation, tumors, microbes, and allergies.
The article first tells us about the basic mechanisms through which quercetin acts on our immune and inflammatory functions. Varies studies have demonstrated its inhibitory actions on multiple cytokines such as nuclear factor kappa B, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, prostaglandin E-2, IL-1β, and leukotriene B-4. By inhibiting these immune messenger chemicals (cytokines), quercetin can lower inflammatory process and immune responses. Besides effects on the cytokines, quercetin also works through anti-oxidant mechanisms. This happens mainly through glutathione pathways and other enzymes related to controlling reactive oxygen species. All of these processes are occurring simultaneously to produce positive effects on disease processes like autoimmune disease.
The authors of this paper urge further research into the use of quercetin for autoimmune diseases, conditions which have a limited number of options for treatment despite affecting a large number of people. To support their call for such research, they offer some findings in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis.
For rheumatoid arthritis, a disease in which our bodies attack our joint and connective tissues, quercetin has shown promising results. In one placebo-controlled cited study, quercetin helped with morning stiffness and pain in humans. In a mouse study, quercetin lowered symptoms and cytokine levels. In a variety of summarized studies, quercetin has shown the ability to alter multiple inflammatory pathways related to this autoimmune disease.
For inflammatory bowel diseases, mainly ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, quercetin also shown potential despite some drawbacks and weaknesses in clinical studies. Its high absorbability in the small intestine, very little reaches to large intestine where much of this disease acts. Research is looking at using a modified form of quercetin called rutin which is not metabolized in the small intestine but reaches the large intestine in large enough amounts to have an effect. In rat models, rutin is showing more promise.
For multiple sclerosis, a devastating neurodegenerative illness, quercetin may again act through cytokine pathways to mitigate the nerve cell damage from this autoimmune disease. Researchers use a mouse model of induced multiple sclerosis to test various therapies. Given that mast cells are suspected to play a role in multiple sclerosis, the fact that quercetin stabilizes mast cells could explain some of quercetin’s benefits. In mouse models, it clearly lowers a number of cytokines involved in the disease.
Given the availability and apparent safety of quercetin, this herbal therapy deserves more research attention. Finding ways to overcome some of its shortcomings could lead to significant benefits for sufferers from autoimmune conditions. Increasing its bioavailability and slowing its metabolic degradation could boost its benefits. Helping patients live healthier more abundant lives calls for us to use the gifts of nature that God provides as well as study how we can better use them in relieving illness.
Original Article:
Shen, Pan et al. “Potential Implications of Quercetin in Autoimmune Diseases.” Frontiers in immunology vol. 12 689044. 23 Jun. 2021, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.689044
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
