Quercetin
One of the six subclasses of flavonoid chemicals, quercetin is classified as flavanol.
Naturally, it is an auxin transport inhibitor.
The most prevalent flavonoid molecules are quercetin-type flavanols, which are found in plants as quercetin glycosides.
They are present in many parts of the plant as well as in many fruits and vegetables.
Quercetin can benefit many bad health conditions.
It has been proven through clinical experimentation to be very safe and effective against the following health conditions:
Cardiovascular diseases
Cancer
Inflammatory disorders
Allergies
Arthritis
Bladder infections
Skin diseases
Diabetes
Blood pressure
Liver disorders
Dementia
The effectiveness and safety of quercetin against all these disorders have been proved through scientific experiments.
Quercetin owes its possible antioxidant properties to the phenolic hydroxyl group and the existence of a double bond. Cancer and cardiovascular illnesses can be prevented and treated because of quercetin's antioxidant qualities [1].
Inflammation is triggered by free radicals in the body; however, antioxidants help scavenge and neutralize free radicals. So, it stands to reason that quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid, would also have anti-inflammatory characteristics.
Multiple studies have shown that daily quercetin supplementation lowers levels of c-reactive protein, an inflammatory biomarker that is increased in illnesses including heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.
The antioxidant quercetin has shown anti-cancer capabilities, which is one of the reasons eating a lot of bright fruits and vegetables is so incredibly healthy. Yet, it has been demonstrated that quercetin prevents the development and multiplication of cancer cells.
Several laboratory and animal studies show quercetin's capacity to slow down the development of cancer cells and even trigger cancer cell death in a variety of cancer types (breast, colon, ovarian, lung, and prostate).
The cardiovascular advantages of quercetin go beyond its anti-inflammatory properties. It decreases high cholesterol, reduces blood pressure, and raises HDL levels. It protects our hearts in many different ways.
Human Digestive System
An important part of the human body involved in providing energy for the survival and daily activities of humans is the digestive system.
The major passageway of the human digestive system involves liquid and solid food particles to be traveled through it and utilized as energy for body activities as well as the waste materials released as feces out of the body. This passageway is termed the GI tract.
The proper digestion of food while passing through this tract is very crucial for the survival of a living being.
It consists of different body parts involving many organs that play specific roles during the process.
If there is a problem in any of the parts of this tract, it can lead to serious disorders [3].
So, the proper functioning of this passageway is very crucial for the well-being of an individual and performing his daily activities.
Digestive System Problems in Humans
Many disorders are linked to the human digestive system that results from the dysfunction of any of the parts of the GI tract.
Some of the important digestive system disorders include:
GIT Cancer
If abnormal growth of cells occurs in any part of this passageway, it can lead to GI tract cancer. Many different types of cancers have been reported for the human digestive system depending on the part of the tract where cancer cells grow. Such as mouth cancer, stomach cancer, etc.
Inflammation
Inflammation can result in any part of the GI tract. Different inflammatory disorders have been reported based on the part of tract inflammation that has occurred. The inflammation of the colon is termed colitis and similar specific terms are used for other parts of inflammation [4].
Appendicitis
The appendix is a part of the human digestive tract and if it gets inflamed, the condition is termed appendicitis. It is a fatal condition and is usually treated by surgery in which the complete part is removed from the body. If this condition is not treated properly, it proves to be very dangerous for the person who is suffering from it.
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
The inflammation of the bowel walls of this passageway leads to these disorders. They are usually autoimmune disorders and need proper treatment.
Similarly, many other disorders have also been reported that disturb the digestion process through this passageway and make life difficult. So, these disorders should be treated frequently and properly.
Symptoms of Digestive Problems
Some of the major symptoms that are associated with almost all types of GI tract disorders are as follows:
Constipation
Diarrhea
Blood in stool
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
These symptoms can be cured by using different medications that are available on the market as well as by using some herbal treatments. But a person should make sure that the remedy he is using is approved scientifically [6].
Risk Factors for Digestive Problems
Research has shown the association of different risk factors with digestive system disorders. exposure to any of these factors increases the risk of getting the disease in humans. Some of these factors are:
Taking a lot of caffeine.
An inactive lifestyle that involves no exercise increases the risk of getting GIT disorders.
Eating food that has very low amounts of fiber.
Changes in daily routine can also increase the risk for GIT disorders.
Laying down immediately after eating.
Some medications and pregnancy can also increase the risk for these disorders.
How to Prevent Digestive System Disorders
Different options are available that can be used in order to prevent or cure digestive system disorders.
Some of these options are as follows.
Avoid the use of caffeine.
Eat foods that are rich in fiber.
Use some herbal treatments.
Use some medications available in the market.
Take more and more exercise and avoid an inactive lifestyle.
Herbal treatments are the most preferable treatment for GIT infections, as they have the least side effects.
If conditions become too severe, surgery is also performed in such cases.
Make sure the remedy you are using is scientifically proven for that disorder .
An important herbal component that has the potential to treat problems associated with the digestive system is Quercetin. It has been proven scientifically to play roles in multiple ways and alleviate digestive symptoms. These processes are discussed later in this article.
How Quercetin Improves Digestive System Functioning
Different experimental studies have been performed which have confirmed that quercetin is a significant compound in improving the function of the digestive system and treating many of the disorders or impairments that are linked with digestion.
It has been found that quercetin can act through multiple processes in the digestive system, and it can be a significant therapeutic modality in treating digestion disorders .
Here are some major properties of quercetin that make it suitable for the treatment of problems associated with the digestive system. It can act through any of the following mechanisms.
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Studies have shown that quercetin is an active compound in reducing inflammation in any part of the body including the digestive tract.
As many of the disorders of the digestive system can cause inflammation of the tract, so quercetin can help in reducing the pain and inflammation and treating such diseases.
Antioxidant Properties
It has also been found that quercetin is a very crucial compound in reducing oxidative stress in cells of the digestive tract. As many disorders of the system result from the accumulation of ROS, so quercetin can help cure these impairments.
Mostly, if the digestive system is exposed to some kind of toxins, it can result in the production of ROS that can in turn damage the digestive tract. So, quercetin can protect the lining of the digestive system from being damaged by reducing the production of ROS in these cells. It can also help in the treatment of several disorders resulting from this condition in cells .
Anti-microbial Properties
Studies have also shown that quercetin plays a crucial role in killing bacteria and viruses that can cause infections in the digestive tract.
By helping in curing infections in the digestive system, quercetin can also improve the function of digestion in the body which ultimately leads to the prevention of many of the impairments.
So, by acting through any of the above-mentioned processes, quercetin can help improve the digestion process as well as cure many digestive system disorders .
Preclinical and Clinical Trials Data
The effectiveness of the quercetin compound has been checked in treating impairments of the digestive system by multiple experimental studies.
These studies have been performed on animal models and in vitro in laboratories to check how quercetin acts in improving the digestion process as well as in human patients with different impairments of the system to check the safety of this crucial compound.
Quercetin has always been proven significant in treating the problems of digestion and improving the process.
Different preclinical studies have been performed. Most of them use rats as animal models with different digestive disorders such as IBD or colon cancer. The effectiveness of quercetin has been proven significant as when these animal models were treated with this compound, they showed a significant reduction in their symptoms. It has been found that quercetin can help in relieving pain and inflammation in these animals [11].
Similarly, studies have also been performed on human patients with different types of digestive problems. It has been found that quercetin plays a crucial role in treating all these disorders significantly.
A study was performed on human patients with ulcerative colitis disorder. These patients were randomly given either a placebo or quercetin for a specific time period. Later, it was observed that the patients who were treated with quercetin had a reduction in all symptoms of the diseases as compared to the patients who were just given a placebo. Moreover, no side effects of quercetin were observed in the patients treated with this crucial compound [12].
Another study was done on human patients with IBS. These patients have severe abdominal pain. They were randomly divided into two groups; one group was given a placebo as a control while the other group was given quercetin. It was found that abdominal pain was significantly reduced in patients treated with quercetin as compared to those given a placebo. All the other symptoms were also alleviated in quercetin-treated patients.
A study was also performed on colon cancer patients. This study comprised women with colon cancer. They were randomly divided into two groups. One group was taken as a control while the other group was given a diet that was rich in quercetin for the specific time period. It was observed that the women who were given this diet rich in quercetin had a significant reduction in tumor size as well as alleviation of all symptoms with no side effects [13].
So based on these studies, we can say that quercetin is a promising therapy in treating almost all types of digestive system problems as well as for improving its function.
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