Journal of Infectious Diseases & Preventive Medicine
Open Access

Abstract

Quercetin: A Promising Treatment for the Common Cold

Brenton Kinker, Adam T Comstock and Uma S Sajjan

Rhinovirus infections have afflicted humanity since the dawn of civilization, and are difficult to treat even with modern medicine. Throughout the ages many remedies have been used for the common cold, often caused by the rhinovirus. Recent research points to a flavanol anti-oxidant, quercetin, as having therapeutic properties. Quercetin has been shown to reduce viral internalization and replication in vitro, and viral load, lung inflammation and airways hyper-responsiveness in vivo.