2 replies to this topic

[SonofSocrates]

Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2009 Nov 6. [Epub ahead of print]
Myricetin and quercetin are naturally occurring co-substrates of cyclooxygenases in vivo.
Bai HW, Zhu BT.

Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, MS-1018, room KLSIC-4061, 2146 W. 39th Ave, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
Bioflavonoids are ubiquitously present in the plant kingdom, and some of them are presently being sold as healthy dietary supplements around the world. Recently, it was shown that some of the dietary polyphenols were strong stimulators of the catalytic activity of cyclooxygenase I and II, resulting in increased formation of certain prostaglandin (PG) products in vitro and also in intact cells in culture. In the present study, we investigated the effect of two representative dietary compounds, quercetin and myricetin, on plasma and tissue levels of several PG products in normal Sprague-Dawley rats. We found that these two dietary bioflavonoids could strongly stimulate the formation of PG products in vivo in a time-dependent manner, and the stimulatory effect of these two bioflavonoids was dose-dependent with a unique biphasic pattern. At lower doses (<0.3mg/kg b.w.), they strongly stimulated the formation of PGE(2), but at higher doses (>0.3mg/kg b.w.), there was a dose-dependent reduction of the stimulatory effect. These results provide support for the hypothesis that some of the bioflavonoids are naturally occurring physiological co-substrates for the cyclooxygenases in vivo.


Thoughts????

Edited by SonofSocrates, 10 November 2009 - 07:58 PM.

[Johann]

I'm putting together a paper that will address this very topic. Right now I'm in the process of gathering my thoughts, compiling data, and outlining the piece. It should be ready shortly.

[Jay]

On the one hand, inhibiting chronic inflammation seems to be a worthy goal. On the other, promoting healing by facilitating acute inflammation may be helpful too.

For example, melatonin seems to promote PGE2 also, but it's half-life is 45 minutes so I take it occasionally as there's good data that it can help heal esophageal erosions. That said, generally good chemoprevention for people with Barrett's esophagus includes anti-inflammatories, not pro-inflammatories.

The old saying that cancer is a wound that never heals may be instructive. Temporary measures that help the wound heal are good if it heals. Those same measures may be bad if experienced chronically.

Thus, there may be role in taking supplements that promote inflammation, at least occasionally. However, in my opinion, most supplement time should be anti-inflammatory in focus.

Edited by Jay, 11 November 2009 - 05:51 PM.