Quercetin metabolites inhibit copper ion-induced lipid peroxidation in rat plasma.

The oxidative susceptibility of plasma obtained from rats after intragastric administration of quercetin was studied to know whether or not quercetin acts as an in vivo antioxidant after metabolic conversion. Quercetin was raised in the rat blood plasma essentially as glucuronide and/or sulfate conjugates. The plasma obtained from rats after quercetin administration was more resistant against copper sulfate-induced lipid peroxidation than the control plasma on the basis of the accumulation of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides and the consumption of alpha-tocopherol. The results strongly suggest that some conjugated metabolites of quercetin act as effective antioxidants when plasma is subject to metal ion-induced lipid peroxidation.