Effect of Certain Flavonoids on the Pituitary-Adrenal Axis.

Abstract

Feeding of quercetin, dihydroquercetin or eriodictyol produces involution of the thymus gland of young rats, but involution does not occur in adrenalectomized or hypophysectomized rats. Stimulation of the pituitary-adrenal axis by certain flavonoids is complementary to previously suggested mechanisms of flavonoid action such as the anti-oxidant action toward epinephrine and ascorbic acid, and the inhibitory action on hyaluronidase.