Influence of the metabolic profile on the <i>in vivo</i> antioxidant activity of quercetin under a low dosage oral regimen in rats

Abstract

This metabolic pattern differs from that observed after a single high-dose administration, where the major metabolites were quercetin conjugates at 5- and 7-hydroxyl positions and a significantly increased plasma antioxidant activity was observed. These data show altogether that the different metabolic patterns obtained under a prolonged low-dosage regimen or after a single high dose, crucially affected the antioxidant potential of plasma in treated animals. Our data also allow for the establishment of structure-antioxidant activity relationships for quercetin metabolites.