Pharmacological Effect of Quercetin in Hypertension and Its Potential Application in Pregnancy‐Induced Hypertension: Review of In Vitro, In Vivo, and Clinical Studies

Abstract

Since improving maternal and child health is a public health priority worldwide, the main aim of treatment of hypertension in pregnant women is to prevent complications during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. In consequence, much attention is paid to the use of antihypertensive drugs that can be used safely during pregnancy. Several side effects of methyldopa, which is currently the most commonly used antihypertensive drug in pregnant women, mean that the search for an effective and safe alternative still continues. Flavonoid compounds present in medicinal plants, vegetables, and fruits may be a promising source of new drugs. In this aspect, quercetin, a well-known flavonoid due to its antihypertensive action, may be considered a prototype for safe antihypertensive drugs. This review focuses on the selective activity of quercetin. Based on recent studies, a few problems were discussed, including (1) pathology of pregnancy-induced hypertension; (2) search for new pharmacological treatments of pregnancy-induced hypertension; (3) issues with the use of herbal extracts during pregnancy; (4) flavonoids as natural active chemical compounds; (5) quercetin: its action during pregnancy, in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities, clinical trials, and meta-analysis; (6) quercetin intake during pregnancy; (7) other natural compounds tested during pregnancy; (8) potential problems with the use of quercetin; (9) safety profile of quercetin. Various studies have shown a beneficial effect of quercetin on vascular endothelial function and its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity on cellular and tissue level. It is known that in animal models quercetin affects positively the development of embryo, fetus, and placenta. Because this flavonoid did not have teratogenic and abortive effect, it is generally recognized as safe. For this reason it should be appreciated and studied in the aspect of its potential use in the prevention and treatment of pregnancy-induced hypertension among women in this risk group.

In vitro and in vivo activities of flavonoids – apigenin, baicalin, chrysin, scutellarin – in regulation of hypertension – a review for their possible effects in pregnancy-induced hypertension

“…placental abruption, elevated levels of liver enzymes, hemolysis, renal failure, cerebral vascular accidents [8]. As it was described previously [2,9,10] "preeclampsia is was defined as high blood pressure (≥140 mmHg systolic or ≥90 mmHg diastolic, or increases of 30 mmHg systolic or 15 mmHg diastolic from the baseline on at least two occasions, six or more hours apart) that develops from the 20 th gestational week in a previously normotensive woman, with proteinuria (one 24-hour urine collection with a total protein excretion of at least 300 mg/l)". The main pathological basis is damage of endothelial cells, followed by dysfunction of vasoactive, inflammatory and clotting factors.…”

“…The activity of certain flavonoids on vascular dysfunction has been the subject of many studies and reviews, since 1959 [1]. Recently, attention has been paid to natural chemical compounds in order to the discovery of new antihypertensive therapeutics especially as drug candidates in prevention and treatment of hypertension [2]. Among the active plant phenolics the most interesting are quercetin, apigenin, chrysin and scutellarin, baicalin occurring in the various extracts from Scutellaria sp.…”

“…One of important medical and therapeutic problems is hypertension induced by pregnancy (PIH) [2]. According to review by Ożarowski et al [2], hypertensive disorders diagnosed during pregnancy were classified as: (1) chronic hypertension, (2) preeclampsiaeclampsia, (3) preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension, (4) gestational hypertension (transient hypertension of pregnancy or chronic hypertension identified in the latter half of pregnancy). PIH may lead to functional and structural complications, i.e.…”

Corn Silk Tea for Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…For these reasons above, treating hypertension with CST as an adjuvant phytotherapy is easy to implement and the patients with hypertension are likely to have better compliance. Moreover, no solid laboratory evidence of how CST works in hypertension has been published, though some progress has been made in demonstrating the mechanisms of BP lowering effect of TCM [29–32], which may suggest an interesting direction for further study.…”

Avaliação do efeito da quercetina em ratos Wistar com Síndrome Metabólica

“…Os flavonóides, especialmente a quercetina, estão amplamente distribuídos nas plantas e encontram-se presentes em quantidades consideráveis em frutas e vegetais (BIRT;HENDRICH;WANG, 2001). A quercetina (3,5,7,3',4'-pentahidroxiflavona) possui propriedades antioxidantes, antinflamatórias e vasodilatadoras, que em estudos em animais (PEREZ-VIZCAINO et al, 2009;YANG et al, 2018) e humanos (EDWARDS et al, 2007;OŻAROWSKI et al, 2018) (Fig.1).…”