Abstract

Quercetin, a well-known bioflavonoid, is commonly found in human diet. This flavonoid along with Genistein gained much attention during the last few years as a potential anticancer drug. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of quercetin on tumour growth in vivo after determining its toxicological profile. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of quercetin was found to be 100 mg/kg. Fifty percent of the S-180 ascitic tumour bearing mice, treated with quercetin with a daily intraperitoneal dose (100 mg/kg) for nine consecutive doses, survived for more than 2 mo. Quercetin did not show significant inhibitory effect on the growth of established mammary tumour inoculated in C3H/ J mice. However, increase in tumour size was significantly lower when administered in combination with cyclophosphamide compared to remaining groups. Quercetin was found to be protecting the mouse bone marrow from radiation-induced toxicity by creating hypoxic conditions in the marrow. Hypoxic conditions resulted in elevated LDH levels in quercetintreated group compared to levels in the control group. Haematological parameters did not show significant difference in treated and control groups. Spleen colony assays suggest quercetin to be nontoxic and that it can be administered at 100 mg/kg dose levels in further studies.