Evaluating the effects of quercetin on rheumatoid arthritis

A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food looked at the effects of the plant polyphenol quercetin on rheumatoid arthritis. This study was conducted by a team of researchers from Konkuk University School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, and Woosuk University in South Korea.

• Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory disease primarily affecting the joints.
• Inflammation in the joints results in damaged cartilage and bones by the activation of osteoclasts, a key component in bone metabolism in rheumatoid.
• In this study, the research team investigated the immune-regulatory function of quercetin in interleukin (IL)-17-produced osteoclastogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis in a lab trial.
• IL-17 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that contributes to the development of many autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
• The team found that quercetin reduced the activity of IL-17.
• It also reduced osteoclastogenesis as well as osteoclast differentiation.

Overall, the research team concluded that quercetin could be used as an additional treatment option for preventing the destruction of bones in rheumatoid arthritis.

Journal Reference:

Kim HR, Kim BM, Won JY, Lee KA, Ko HM, Kang YS, Lee Sh, Kim KW. QUERCETIN, A PLANT POLYPHENOL, HAS POTENTIAL FOR THE PREVENTION OF BONE DESTRUCTION IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2019 March 23; 22(2): 152-161. DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2018.4259