Title:Distribution of Quercetin in Different Organs of Male Sprague Dawley Rats under Hypoxia: a High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography Approach
VOLUME: 6
Author(s):Ankit Tripathi , Jigni Mishra, Anuja Bhardwaj, Kshipra Misra and Sarada S.K. Sagi*
Affiliation:Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi-110054, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi-110054, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi-110054, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi-110054, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi-110054
Keywords:Quercetin, flavonoid, hypoxia, HPTLC, male SD rats, distribution.
Abstract:Background: Quercetin (3’,3’,4,5,7-pentahydroxyflavonol), a natural flavonoid found
in fruits, vegetables, beverages, and other phytoproducts, exerts multiple health benefits including
reductions in hypoxia-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid peroxidation, allergic disorders,
neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.
Objective: Despite knowledge of such therapeutic efficacy of quercetin to human health, there is
limited literature available that sheds light on an organ-wise distribution of quercetin. Therefore,
the current study was performed to accurately estimate the distribution of quercetin in its supplemented
form in different tissues of a mammalian model, i.e., male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.
Method: The rats were exposed to different durations (1 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 12 h) of hypoxia in a
simulated hypobaric hypoxia chamber, with parameters maintained at 8 % O2 and 282 mm Hg,
following which they were sacrificed. Plasma and different tissue samples were duly collected. A
high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) approach was employed for the first time,
using our own reported method, along with an optimized sample preparation procedure for quercetin
determination. Briefly, the samples were developed in a mobile phase constituted of ethyl
acetate, dichloromethane, methanol, formic acid, and glacial acetic acid.
Results: Distinct bands of quercetin in resultant HPTLC profiles verified that the amount of quercetin
varied among different tissues, with varying durations to hypoxia exposure. Quercetin was
substantially retained in vital organs namely, lungs, liver, and heart for relatively longer durations.
Conclusion: The present study established HPTLC as an efficient and high throughput tool, leading
to a satisfactory evaluation of the amount of quercetin present in various tissue samples under
hypoxia.
