INFLUENCE OF QUERCETIN AND DIHYDROQUERCETIN ON SOME FUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS OF RAT LIVER MITOCHONDRIA

Abstract

Flavonoids are proved to be prominent plant-derived compounds generally found in fruit- and vegetable- rich diets with free radicals quenching ability. Quercetin, a member of flavonoids subclass – flavonols, has gained major attention due to its overwhelming potential. Quercetin was demonstrated to preserve diverse degenerative diseases by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. In the present paper, we deal with two polyphenolic compounds’ – quercetin and dihydroquercetin – influence on functional parameters of mitochondria. Thus, the fore mentioned flavonols showed the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) inhibition and ATP-sensitive potassium channel activation capacities as well as strong antioxidаnt/antiradiÑal activity. Improving functional parameters of mitochondria by both quercetin and dihydroquercetin formed a basic idea of the hypothesis that the studied flavonols may provide antihypoxic defense.