Cancer
Quercetin may prevent prostate cancer
By Ben Wasserman
Nov 8, 2008 - 1:42:48 PM

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A study in the Dec 2008 issue of Prostate suggests that eating a diet rich in quercetin, a flavonol found in some fruits and vegetables may help prevent prostate cancer.

Quercetin is a flavonoid, the aglycone form of a number of other flavonoid glycosides, such as rutin and quercitrin, found in citrus fruit, buckwheat and onions, according to Wikipedia.

The study led by Aalinkeel R andc colleagues of State University of New York at Buffalo showed quercetin can decrease prostate cancer cell proliferation and vitality.

For the study, the researchers treated prostate cancer cells with quercetin and found that "Quercetin promotes cancer cell apoptosis by down-regulating the levels of heat shock protein (Hsp) 90"

Aalinkeel and team concluded "quercetin down-regulates the expression of Hsp90 which, in turn, induces inhibition of growth and cell death in prostate cancer cells while exerting no quantifiable effect on normal prostate epithelial cells."

Prostate cancer is expected to be diagnosed in about 200,000 men in the United States each year.