Resveratrol and Quercetin
Resveratrol and Quercetin are bioflavonoids extracted from red wine grapes that possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that have been shown to be of great impact on heart and lung health, limiting the negative effects of smoking.  Resveratrol and quercetin appear to decrease the risk of heart disease by reducing abnormal formation of blood clots, and by protecting low density lipid (LDL) cholesterol from free radical damage (oxidation turns LDL into an artery-damaging molecule).  Quercetin has been found to reduce nitrite levels, presumably by scavenging nitric oxide, and may afford protection against certain kinds of cancers, notably prostate cancer.

The Research
Resveratrol may be effective pharmacotherapy for macrophage pathophysiology in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College of London, England.

Resveratrol found to be effective in reducing nitrite levels, modifying iNOS mRNA, and decreasing free radical production, and may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel.

Resveratrol may possess anti-inflammatory properties that may lead to new therapies for the treatment of chronic airway inflammation. National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, England.

Smokers ingesting the anti-mutagen quercetin are partially protected against the harmful effects by tobacco carcinogens that lead to bladder cancer. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.

Quercetin inhibits the activation of the carcinogen NNK, and may afford protection against NNK-induced carcinogenesis. Loma Linda University School of Medicine, CA.

 

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