New research: flavonoid quercetin fights viral infections, protects against chronic lung diseases
Jun 14, 2010
(NaturalNews) Asthma, cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) are serious and even life-threatening
conditions. However, these health problems share something with a
usually minor infection -- the common cold. The connection? Rhinovirus
(RV), a single-stranded RNA virus from the picornaviridae family, causes the majority of colds and RV is also known to trigger exacerbations of CF, asthma and COPD.
But
now University of Michigan at Ann Arbor scientists have found that a
natural substance, the flavonoid quercetin, puts the brakes on the
ability of RV to replicate. It also fights inflammation. According to
their research just presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS)
2010 International Conference held in New Orleans, quercetin
could be a treatment for rhinovirus-caused infections and could be
particularly beneficial for people with serious underlying chronic lung
diseases.
That's great news not just for people looking
for a possible cure for the common cold but especially for those
suffering from conditions like COPD and CF that rob them of the ability
to breathe. For example, COPD (which includes emphysema and chronic
obstructive bronchitis) causes coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath,
chest tightness, and other symptoms. According the National Heart, Lung
and Blood Institute, COPD is a major cause of disability and the fourth
leading cause of death in the United States. CF is an inherited chronic
disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000
children and adults in the US. It causes the body to produce a thick,
sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and can lead to life-threatening lung
infections.
For their study, the University of Michigan research
team decided to test quercetin on cells infected with RV. A
phytochemical found in the skins of apples, red onions and other foods,
quercetin is known to be a powerful antioxidant with antihistamine and
anti-inflammatory properties. So the scientists hypothesized that
quercetin might reduce the ability of RV to spark an inflammatory
response. That's important because inflammation causes oxidative stress
which can disrupt the function of epithelial cells (cells that line
cavities and structures) inside airways, negatively impacting the
ability to breathe.
Their lab experiments with RV infected cells
showed that the researchers were right. The results suggested that
quercetin actually inhibited the ability of the virus to replicate. The
flavonoid also appeared to reduce the RV-triggered immune system
response that can cause cytokines (proteins that are secreted by
specific cells of the immune system) to induce excess inflammation. "Therefore,
quercetin may be beneficial in the treatment of viral infections,
particularly in patients with underlying chronic lung disease," the researchers stated.
As
NaturalNews has previously reported, evidence has been accumulating
over the past several years that shows phytonutrients such as quercetin
are powerful protectors of health (http://www.naturalnews.com/027409_f...). For example, the flavonoid may protect brain cells and help prevent dementia (http://www.naturalnews.com/002509.html). A study by University of South Carolina research found quercetin can boost exercise endurance, too (http://www.naturalnews.com/026591_q...).
For more information:
http://www.thoracic.org/newsroom/pr...
http://www.naturalnews.com/querceti...
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci...
http://www.cff.org/AboutCF/
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