Kaempferol is one of the most well-known and studied flavonols. It possesses antidepressant properties and benefits, and also acts as an antioxidant.
If you’re wondering where it comes from… it can be found in many traditional foods such as fruits like grapes, grapefruit, and vegetables such as broccoli or Brussels sprouts.
In fact, the flavonoid kaempferol is quite common in nature, functioning as a pigment that gives color to plant flowers and, as these mature and give way to fruits, it can also be found in them.
Contents
Properties and Benefits of Kaempferol
Many of the kaempferol glycosides have medicinal properties such as the following:
- Antioxidant.
- Anxiolytic.
- Estrogenic and antiestrogenic.
- Antiallergic.
- Neuroprotective.
- Analgesic.
- Antidiabetic.
- Antiosteoporotic (prevents cognitive deterioration).
The flavonoid kaempferol glycosides have anticancer activity. The most efficient ones are quercetin, astragaline, and kaempferitrin, but unlike their other properties, in cancer prevention, they work better separately as indicated by the study conducted by Professor Ackland ML et al in the analyses carried out in 2005, which gave rise to the study called «The synergistic antiproliferative action of the flavonols quercetin and kaempferol in human cancer cells.»
The study «Inhibition of P-glycoprotein function and expression by kaempferol and quercetin» developed at the University of Chiang Mai, located in Thailand, can also be consulted. These effects are similar to drugs such as Vinblastine and Paclitaxel used to treat pancreatic and ovarian cancer, among others.
Additionally, other physical and chemical properties include:
- Soluble in hot ethanol and ethyl ether.
- Solid state.
- Yellow color.
Kaempferol and its glycosides have properties to regulate the human psyche, reduce apathy and negative thoughts, and, together with its glycosides, are obtained from plants such as Acacia decurrens and Acacia longifolia.
In plants, it acts as a pigment, giving color to flowers just like many other flavonoids. These have a function in the plant kingdom and in humans provide protective effects against free radicals.
Furthermore, the anticancer properties of kaempferol are one of the current research avenues to prevent and avoid the onset of certain tumor diseases. It is believed that, along with myricetin, quercetin serves to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.
There is also a study developed by the University of California, Los Angeles, led by Dr. Zuo-Feng Zhang, where the results were evaluated with subjects who were nourished with foods containing kaempferol from fresh fruits. These individuals showed more resistance to lung cancer, with catechin being the most potent flavonoid for this purpose.
Recent epidemiological studies have correlated the consumption of foods with flavonoids and a lower risk of suffering from various types of cancer, as well as a decrease in cardiovascular diseases.
Where It’s Found (Foods and Medicinal Plants)
- Acacia decurrens and longifolia.
- Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana).
- Beans or legumes.
- Broccoli.
- Onions.
- Chia seeds.
- Brussels sprouts.
- Kale.
- Delphinium.
- Escarole.
- Strawberries.
- Ginkgo biloba.
- Witch hazel.
- Apples.
- Laurus nobilis.
- Lonicera japonica.
- Lycium barbarum, chinense.
- Grapefruit.
- Leeks.
- Cabbage.
- Green tea.
- American linden.
- Tomatoes.
- Orange.
- Soy (Glycine max).
- Grapes.
- Vitis vinifera.
Kaempferol Glycosides
- Astragaline.
- Kaempferitrin.
- Kaempferol 7-o glucoside.
- Kaempferol 3-o glucoside.
- Kaempferol 3-rutinoside.
Uses of Quercetin and Kaempferol
Many flavonoids have anticancer activity, but some stand out above others for their good properties. And it’s that quercetin and kaempferol offer better results when isolated, being much more efficient in the prevention of malignant tumors when administered separately.
References
- Jun Seong Park, Ho Sik Rho, Duck Hee Kim, and Ih Seop Chang (2006). «Enzymatic Preparation of Kaempferol from Green Tea Seed and Its Antioxidant Activity». Agric. Food Chem. 54 (8): 2951-2956.
- G. Perkin, E. J. Wilkinson (1902). J. Chem. Soc. 81: 585.
- Dunlap, Wender (1962). Biochem. 4: 110.
- Lycaeum — Phytochemistry Intro.
- «Antidepressant effect of kaempferol, a constituent of saffron (Crocus sativus) petal, in mice and rats». Pharmacologyonline.
- Ute Nöthlings, Suzanne P. Murphy, Lynne R. Wilkens, Brian E. Henderson & Laurence N. Kolone. 2007. Flavonols and Pancreatic Cancer Risk. American Journal of Epidemiology 166(8): 924–931.
- UCLA news – Fruits, vegetables, teas may protect smokers from lung cáncer.
- «Kaempferol treatment increased the expression and the mitochondria localization of the NAD-dependent deacetylase SIRT3. The chronic myelogenous leukemiae K562 cells stably overexpressing SIRT3 were more sensitive to kaempferol, whereas SIRT3 silencing did not increase the resistance of K562 cells to kaempferol ( Marfe G et al. 2009).»
- Paul M. Dewick (2009). Medicinal Natural Products: A Biosynthetic Approach, Third Edition. New Jersey, USA: John Wiley and Sons.
- Calderon-Montaño JM, Burgos-Moron E, Perez-Guerrero C, Lopez-Lazaro M. (2011). «A review on the dietary flavonoid kaempferol». Mini Rev Med Chem.
