Tier 3 — preclinical

Quercetin is more effective than cromolyn in blocking human mast cell cytokine release and inhibits contact dermatitis and photosensitivity in humans

Weng Z, Zhang B, Asadi S, Sismanopoulos N, Butcher A, Fu X, Katsarou-Katsari A, Antoniou C, Theoharides TC
PLoS One 2012 7(3):e33805

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 22470478
PubMed Central
PMC3314669
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0033805

Study snapshot

DesignIn vitro mast cell cytokine-release assay plus two open-label pilot clinical studies
ModelCultured human mast cell lines (LAD2, cord-blood-derived hCBMC) and human patients with contact dermatitis/photosensitivity
SampleNickel-contact pilot: 10 women; an additional small photosensitivity pilot and in-vitro mast-cell assays. No fisetin recipients.
InterventionQuercetin vs cromolyn sodium (prescription mast cell stabiliser)
DurationNickel-contact pilot: three days of water-soluble quercetin before challenge and a one-week washout; separate laboratory and photosensitivity protocols.
EndpointsHistamine, PGD2, IL-6, IL-8, TNF release from mast cells; NF-kB activation; Clinical improvement in contact dermatitis and photosensitivity (open-label)

What the study showed, in plain terms

In cell culture, the flavonoid quercetin blocked inflammatory cytokine release from human mast cells more effectively than cromolyn, the only prescription mast cell stabiliser on the market. In two small, open-label human pilot studies, quercetin reduced symptoms of contact dermatitis and photosensitivity. This study tested quercetin, not fisetin - the two are related flavonoids but this paper provides no direct fisetin data.

Key findings

  • Quercetin inhibited human mast-cell cytokine release in laboratory assays.
  • Small, open-label human pilot observations concerned contact dermatitis and photosensitivity; they were not blinded, confirmatory efficacy trials.
  • No fisetin intervention was tested, so the findings cannot substantiate fisetin treatment of mast-cell disorders.

What this study can and cannot tell us

The human data come from two small, open-label, unblinded, uncontrolled pilot studies - not randomised controlled trials. The compound tested was quercetin, not fisetin; the two flavonoids are related but distinct, and this paper should not be read as direct evidence for fisetin's effect on mast cells.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology