Quercetin is a kind of beneficial compound widely existing in human diet, such as apples, tea, various vegetables and fruits contain this nutrient. Quercetin has been found to be associated with cancer. This compound can prevent cancer cells from growing, so it may be used for cancer treatment in the future.
The specific mechanism of quercetin in preventing cancer is still unclear, but most researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of this compound are key. Although quercetin has been linked to cancer in experimental settings, its impact on human cancer treatment is uncertain.
From the perspective of human nutrition, compounds called polyphenols constitute a common antioxidant against free radicals. A large number of studies have confirmed that free radicals are associated with cancer, so many researchers believe that antioxidants are important to prevent this fatal disease. The most common polyphenol in the diet is quercetin, which can be found in tea, apples, and various fruits and vegetables. Many nutrition and health experts have found a link between quercetin and cancer prevention through animal and cell isolation studies.
In the process of animal experiments and research on controlling cell isolation, quercetin compounds were found to help resist cancer cells and promote their death. This is often referred to as apoptosis, which generally means that cells kill themselves to prevent further gene mutations from contributing to cancer or other diseases. Studies have found that polyphenols, as a powerful antioxidant, can affect these cancer cells and prevent their growth. Although there may be other factors in antioxidants that promote apoptosis, more research is needed to confirm this theory.
Some scientists believe that the role of quercetin in preventing cancer not only benefits from antioxidants, but also has something to do with its anti-inflammatory effect. Since many studies have found a link between cancer and inflammation, researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory compounds in quercetin are the key to prevent cancer.
It is not yet clear how effective quercetin can be given by injection or oral administration in humans. However, most doctors and nutritionists advocate to eat more foods rich in quercetin, such as apples and tea, because no safe health products or drugs have been developed.