ArticlePloS one2012
Quercetin is more effective than cromolyn in blocking human mast cell cytokine release and inhibits contact dermatitis and photosensitivity in humans.
Article in PloS one, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 69 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
69 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 186 citations in OpenAlex.
- Knowledge structure, latent topics, and emerging trends in quercetin-immunity research from 2006 to 2025: a bibliometric and LDA topic-modeling analysis.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties ofBiomedicines · 2026Review
- Tetrahydrocurcumin suppresses FcεRI- and MRGPRX2-mediated mast cell activation and attenuates peanut-induced anaphylaxis in an in vitro and in vivo study.Pharmacological reports : PR · 2026Article
- Neuroimmune Regulation of Microvascular Inflammation: The Heart-Brain Axis, Mast Cells, and the Protective Role of Flavonoids-A Comprehensive Review.Biomedicines · 2026Review
- Gut-Brain Inflammation and Disrupted Homeostasis Due to Activation of Mast Cells and Microglia.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Is histamine intolerance a treatable subtype of fibromyalgia? evidence and clinical implications-narrative review.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- A pathway to next-generation mast cell stabilizers identified through the novel Phytomedical Analytics for Research Optimization at scale data platform.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- Association Between Hormonal Contraceptive Use and Lipedema: A Cross-Sectional Study With 637 Brazilian Women.Cureus · 2025Article
- Modulatory effects of bioactive natural compounds on pruritic pathways: mechanistic basis and therapeutic prospects.Inflammopharmacology · 2025Review
- Endothelial senescence drives intrinsic skin aging via the neuroimmune CGRP-mast cell axis in mice.Communications biology · 2025Article
- A pathway to next-generation mast cell stabilizers identified through the novel Phytomedical Analytics for Research Optimization at Scale data platform.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025Article
- Baicalein Interactions with Lipid Membrane Models: Implications for Its Protective Role against Respiratory Viral Infections.Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids · 2025Article
- Contributions of neuroimmune interactions to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy development and its prevention/therapy.Biochemical pharmacology · 2024Review
- Mast Cells in Autism Spectrum Disorder-The Enigma to Be Solved?International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
- Mast cell stabilizers: from pathogenic roles to targeting therapies.Frontiers in immunology · 2024Review
- TLR7 promotes smoke-induced experimental lung damage through the activity of mast cell tryptase.Nature communications · 2023Article
- Potential Role of Moesin in Regulating Mast Cell Secretion.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Review
- Amyloid Beta Peptides Lead to Mast Cell Activation in a Novel 3D Hydrogel Model.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
- Recent Advances in Potential Health Benefits of Quercetin.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Quercetin-Induced Enhancement of Nasal Epithelial Cells' Ability to Produce Clara Cell 10-kD Protein In Vitro and In Vivo.Medicines (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
9 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Mast cells are immune cells critical in the pathogenesis of allergic, but also inflammatory and autoimmune diseases through release of many pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-8 and TNF. Contact dermatitis and photosensitivity are skin conditions that involve non-immune triggers such as substance P (SP), and do not respond to conventional treatment. Inhibition of mast cell cytokine release could be effective therapy for such diseases. Unfortunately, disodium cromoglycate (cromolyn), the only compound marketed as a mast cell "stabilizer", is not particularly effective in blocking human mast cells. Instead, flavonoids are potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds with mast cell inhibitory actions. Here, we first compared the flavonoid quercetin (Que) and cromolyn on cultured human mast cells. Que and cromolyn (100 µM) can effectively inhibit secretion of histamine and PGD(2). Que and cromolyn also inhibit histamine, leukotrienes and PGD(2) from primary human cord blood-derived cultured mast cells (hCBMCs) stimulated by IgE/Anti-IgE. However, Que is more effective than cromolyn in inhibiting IL-8 and TNF release from LAD2 mast cells stimulated by SP. Moreover, Que reduces IL-6 release from hCBMCs in a dose-dependent manner. Que inhibits cytosolic calcium level increase and NF-kappa B activation. Interestingly, Que is effective prophylactically, while cromolyn must be added together with the trigger or it rapidly loses its effect. In two pilot, open-label, clinical trials, Que significantly decreased contact dermatitis and photosensitivity, skin conditions that do not respond to conventional treatment. In summary, Que is a promising candidate as an effective mast cell inhibitor for allergic and inflammatory diseases, especially in formulations that permit more sufficient oral absorption.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.