A exposição à radiação ultravioleta (RUV) pode provocar desequilíbrio no balanço oxidante/antioxidante da pele, causando prejuízos à sua integridade e levando a diversas alterações, entre as quais o envelhecimento precoce e o câncer de pele. Considerando a estreita relação entre o aumento do estresse oxidativo e os efeitos danosos causados pela RUV na pele, aliado ao fato de que estudos epidemiológicos demonstram que o uso de protetores ou bloqueadores solares não é completamente efetivo na prevenção dos diversos malefícios causados pela exposição à RUV, o uso de antioxidantes aparece como importante alternativa nas terapias de fotoproteção. A administração tópica de antioxidantes, como a quercetina, poderia afetar as alterações moleculares desencadeadas pela RUV e conseqüentemente as seqüelas biológicas e clínicas resultantes das mesmas. Desta forma, na presente pesquisa, sistema microemulsionado para a liberação cutânea de quercetina foi obtido, caracterizado e avaliado quanto a sua capacidade em promover maior penetração cutânea deste ativo, estabilidade, segurança e eficácia in vivo contra os danos na pele causados pela exposição à RUV. Além disso, o efeito da quercetina contra diferentes alterações moleculares induzidas pela RUV foi também avaliado, com o objetivo de investigar os possíveis mecanismos de ação fotoprotetora deste flavonóide. Os resultados demonstram que a incorporação da quercetina em sistema microemulsionado aumentou a penetração cutânea in vitro e in vivo deste flavonóide sem causar irritação, sendo, portanto, uma importante estratégia para melhorar a liberação tópica da quercetina. O estudo de estabilidade demonstra a necessidade de armazenamento deste sistema a 4°C para manutenção de sua funcionalidade. A microemulsão contendo quercetina inibiu a depleção do antioxidante endógeno GSH, assim como o aumento da atividade/secreção de proteinases e da atividade da MPO, induzidos pela exposição à RUVB. O pré-tratamento de queratinócitos com quercetina não alterou a indução pela RUV das MAP quinases, conseqüentemente não houve inibição na elevação dos níveis de c-Jun e c-Fos, assim como no aumento da produção das MMPs 1 e 3, mas por outro lado foi efetivo contra o aumento na produção das citocinas IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 e TNF-. Finalmente, demonstrou-se que a ação fotoprotetora da quercetina contra os danos na pele causados pela RUV é mediada principalmente pela inibição da via de sinalização do NF-kB, uma vez que, enquanto o pré-tratamento de queratinócitos com quercetina diminuiu a ativação deste fator de transcrição, nenhum efeito contra a indução da via de sinalização da AP-1 foi observado. Concluindo, este trabalho sugere a incorporação da quercetina em sistema microemulsionado como estratégia relevante no combate ao aparecimento de desordens cutâneas causadas pela exposição à RUV, além de contribuir para a elucidação, pelo menos em parte, do mecanismo de ação fotoprotetora da quercetina contra alterações moleculares induzidas pela RUV. / The ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposition may lead to the skin oxidant/antioxidant imbalance injuring its integrity and leading to several disorders, such as ageing and skin cancer. Considering the close relationship between the increase in oxidative stress and UV-induced skin damages, together with the fact that epidemiological studies indicate that the use of sunscreen and sun block are not completely effective in preventing UV-induced damages, the use of antioxidants arises as an important approach to photoprotection therapies. The topical use of antioxidants, such as quercetin, would affect the molecular changes induced by UV and subsequent biological and clinical sequela. Therefore, in the present study, microemulsion system for topical delivery of quercetin was obtained, characterized and evaluated with regards to its capability to increase skin penetration of quercetin, stability, toxicity and in vivo effectiveness against UV-induced skin damages. Moreover, quercetin effect against different UV-induced molecular changes was also assessed, in order to investigate the possible photoprotective mechanisms of action of this flavonoid. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of quercetin into microemulsion increased the in vitro and in vivo skin penetration of this flavonoid without causing skin irritation, being an important strategy to improve the topical delivery of quercetin. The stability study demonstrate the necessity to storage this system at 4°C to maintain its functionality. The microemulsion containing quercetin inhibited the depletion of the endogenous antioxidant GSH, as well as the increase in proteinases activity/secretion and MPO activity induced by UVB irradiation exposure. The pretreatment of keratinocytes with quercetin had no blocking effect on UV activation of MAP kinases, consequently, there was no inhibition in the c-Jun and c-Fos levels, as well as in the induction of MMPs 1 and 3, on the other hand, it was effective against the increase in the production of cytokines IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 e TNF-. Finally, it was demonstrated that the photoprotective action of quercetin against UV-induced skin damages is mediated mainly by suppression of NF-kB signaling pathway, once, while the pretreatment of keratinocytes with quercetin suppressed the activation of this transcription factor, no effect was observed against UV-induced AP-1 activation. In conclusion, the present study suggests the incorporation of quercetin into microemulsion system as a relevant strategy to prevent UV-induced skin disorders, and contribute, at least in part, to the elucidation of quercetin photoprotective mechanism of action against UV-induced molecular changes.

Orientador: Sara Teresinha Olalla Saad / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T00:22:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maso_Victor_D.pdf: 2835269 bytes, checksum: f3165794df6b39b4fa01215914687cc9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Síndromes mielodisplásicas (SMD) abrangem um espectro de doenças hematológicas caracterizadas por hematopoese ineficaz e risco de evolução para leucemia mielóide aguda (LMA). As leucemias agudas apresentam altas taxas de mortalidade devido, principalmente, à sua capacidade de resistir a diversos tipos de quimioterápicos, sendo necessário buscar novos compostos capazes de interferirem no crescimento tumoral. Deste modo, o objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar os efeitos da quercetina in vitro e in vivo, na linhagem celular P39/Tsugane, a qual foi estabelecida a partir de células leucêmicas do sangue periférico de paciente que possuía síndrome mielodisplásica, como modelo. O desenho experimental compreendeu o tratamento in vitro e in vivo com quercetina das células leucêmicas, verificando-se vias de apoptose, ciclo celular e autofagia. O modelo xenográfico de tumor de células leucêmicas subcutâneo foi utilzado para os ensaios in vivo. A quercetina induziu pronunciada apoptose das células leucêmicas P39, seguida por supressão da expressão de BcL-2, BclxL, Mcl-1, aumento da expressão de Bax e modulação do potencial de membrana mitocondrial com liberação de citocromo c e ativação de caspases. O tratamento com quercetina resultou em retenção das células na fase G1 do ciclo celular, com pronunciada diminuição das proteínas CDK2, CDK6, ciclina D, ciclina E e ciclina A, diminuição na fosforilação de Rb e aumento na expressão de p21 e p27. Quercetina induziu a formação do autofagossomo nas células P39, com ativação de PI3K classe III, Beclina 1, Atg5-Atg12, Atg7, conversão de LC3-I em LC3-II e desfosforilação de Akt e mTOR. A inibição da autofagia induzida por cloroquina juntamente com quercetina viii desencadeou aumento na apoptose, mas não alterou a modulação da fase G1 do ciclo celular induzida por quercetina. As células P39 tratadas com a combinação de quercetina e inibidores seletivos de ERK1/2 e/ou JNK (PD184352 e SP600125, respectivamente) apresentaram diminuição na retenção em fase G1 do ciclo, Este tratamento combinado, entretanto, não alterou a percentagem de células apoptóticas. Além disso, administração in vivo de quercetina reduziu significativamente o volume tumoral em camundongos inoculados com células P39 e confimar os resultados in vitro relacionados com apoptose, autofagia e ciclo celular. Assim, quercetina demonstra uma potente atividade antileucêmica através de sinalizações que causam parada do ciclo celular, apoptose e indução da autofagia. Esta última, por sua vez, parece proteger as células do alto grau de apoptose / Abstract: This study proposes to investigate quercetin antitumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo, using P39 cell line as a model. The experimental design comprised leukemic cells or xenografts of P39 cells, treated in vitro or in vivo, respectively, with quercetin; apoptosis, cell cycle and autophagy activation were then evaluated. Quercetin caused pronounced apoptosis in P39 leukemia cells, followed by Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Mcl-1 downregulation, Bax upregulation and mitochondrial translocation, triggering cytochrome c release and caspases activation. Quercetin also induced the expression of FasL protein. Furthermore, our results demonstrated an antioxidant activity of quercetin. Quercetin treatment resulted in an increased cell-arrest in G1 phase of the cell cycle, with pronounced decrease in CDK2, CDK6, cyclin D, cyclin E and cyclin A proteins, decreased Rb phosphorylation and increased p21 and p27 expression. Quercetin induced autophagosome formation in P39 cell line, with upregulation of PI3K class III proteins, Beclin-1, Atg5-Atg12, Atg7, conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II, and dephosphorylation of Akt and mTOR. Autophagy inhibition induced by quercetin with chloroquine triggered apoptosis but did not alter quercetin modulation in the G1 phase. P39 cell treatment with a combination of quercetin and selective inhibitors of ERK1/2 and/or JNK (PD184352 or SP600125 respectively), significantly decreased cells in G1 phase, this treatment however did not change the apoptotic cell number. Furthermore, in vivo administration of quercetin significantly reduced tumor volume in P39 xenografts and confirmed in vitro results regarding apoptosis, autophagy and cell cycle arrest / Doutorado / Biologia Estrutural, Celular, Molecular e do Desenvolvimento / Doutor em Fisiopatologia Medica

Amount of rutin and quercetin in bark and leaves from different type of Sambucus nigra was determined in this diploma thesis. Records of amounts were compared with amounts in significant sources of these flavonoids. Matters from raw matrix were obtained with pressurized solvent extraction (PSE) and pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE). There was use temperature 120°C, pressure 150 bar, three times 5-min cycles for PSE. There were used 80°C, 150 bar, three 5-min cycles for rutin extracted with PHWE and the same condition were used for extraction of quercetin only the temperature was changed to 100 °C. Analysis of rutin and quercetin were carry out high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection (DAD), where was used SUPELCOSILTM LC 8DB column (5µm; 250 x 4.6 mm). Methanol: water: formic acid (36: 61.5: 2.5, pH 2.17 2.28) was used like a mobile phase. The flow of the mobile phase was set up 0.7 ml/min. Size of sample was 10 µl. The most amount of rutin was determined in the leaves of wild kind of Sambucus nigra with methanol extraction and hot water too. Extraction with PHWE was more effectively. There were determined 5.58 mg of rutin in one gram of sample from wild Sambucus nigra. There were determined the smallest amount of rutin in Sambucus nigra Körsör. There was found only 0.13 mg/g with extraction PHWE. The quercetin wasn’t determined in any Sambucus nigra leaves. There were found both of the flavonoids (rutin and quercetin) in the branch of Sambucus nigra. The rutin was determined in the small amount in wild kind but it was found in the important amount in Sambucus nigra cultivar. Whereas the quercetin was found in higher concentration than rutin when was finding the ideal conditions for extraction of branch. The quercetin was chosen like more important in light of amount. In the end the quercetin wasn’t detected in any Sambucus nigra cultivars. The most amount of quercetin was determined in wild sambucus nigra, 0.24 mg/g. The most amount of rutin was found in Sambucus nigra Albida, 2.33 mg/g.

Obesity is an urgent global public health concern as prevalence rates continue to increase, especially among children. At the cellular level obesity is defined by an increase in adipocyte number (hyperplasia) and size (hypertrophy). Both lead to the dysfunction of adipose tissue, which has been identified as the link between obesity and chronic disease. Bioactive compounds, naturally occurring in fruits and vegetables, hold enormous potential in regulating adipocyte biology. Quercetin, the most commonly consumed dietary flavonoid, is a strong potential anti-obesity agent that has been implicated as an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator and shown to ameliorate symptoms of metabolic syndrome in vivo. Here we investigated quercetin’s effect on (1) adipogenesis, the process of increasing adipocyte number, and (2) metabolism of mature adipocytes. In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, quercetin dose-dependently inhibited adipogenesis, as evidenced by decreased lipid accumulation and expression of adipogenic markers such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, CCAAT/ enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) α, adipocyte fatty acid binding protein 2 (aP2), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) on mRNA and protein levels. This inhibitory effect was limited to the early stages of adipogenesis (0-36 hours), and quercetin treatment altered the normal expression pattern of cell cycle related genes Cyclin A and p27, indicating quercetin may inhibit adipogenesis through cell cycle events. We next investigated quercetin’s ability to activate AMPK and the metabolic pathways related to AMPK activation: lipolysis and b-oxidation. Quercetin increased phosphorylation of AMPK and its downstream target ACC. Further, quercetin treatment (100μM) increased free fatty acid content in the media through an AMPK-dependent mechanism. Quercetin up-regulated mRNA expression of uncoupling proteins 3 (UCP3) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator 1 alpha (PGC-1a), indicating that quercetin may induce mitochondrial oxidative pathways, also through an AMPK-dependent pathway. These findings suggest (1) quercetin inhibits adipogenesis through the regulation of early cell cycle events required for adipogenic differentiation, and (2) quercetin’s activation of AMPK induces lipolytic and oxidative pathways. Taken together, quercetin could be further developed as an anti-obesity agent because of its potential to inhibit both hyperplasia and hypertrophy in vitro.

Flavonoids are plant secondary metabolites well known for many key roles in the life cycle of plants. They also can affect human health. Citrus paradisi is known to produce several glucosylated flavonoids and these compounds are glucosylated by enzymes known as glucosyltransferases (GTs). The focus of this research was to optimize the heterologous expression, enrichment, and biochemical characterization of grapefruit putative GT protein, PGT2, and to test the hypothesis that PGT2 is a flavonoid GT. Results showed detectable amounts of activity with quercetin, a flavonol; however, activity was lower than what would be expected if this enzyme were a flavonol-specific GT. In an additional aspect of this study, bioinformatics were used to test the hypothesis that additional putative GT clones could be identified using the harvEST database.

In the tuberculosis patients, Mycobacterium tuberculosis can stimulate production of hydrogen peroxide in the host as a result of immune response. The H2O2 accumulate in pulmonary cells, causing oxidative stress that could lead to the cancer. We select TB patients for this study which investigates the effects of quercetin as there is an increased incidence of latent TB among the migrant population in the past few years and TB can increase the risk of cancer. Sperm and lymphocytes were treated with DNA damage inducers and quercetin (10µM, 25µM and 100µM), the responses evaluated using the Comet and micronucleus techniques. The gene expressions of COX1, COX2, P53 and Bcl-2 and catalase protein expression were investigated using the qPCR and Western blot techniques. The results showed that a substantial reduction of DNA damage in lymphocytes from TB patients and sperm from healthy donors from * P ≤ 0.0283 to *** P≤0.001in the Comet assay. In the MNi assay, the effect of quercetin in lymphocytes was more significant in reduce DNA damage, whereas the DNA damage induced by a food mutagen was significant, from *p 0.0405 to ***p 0.001. The qPCR showed significance down-regulation of COX1 and Bcl-2 gene expression, rated between *p 0.045 and **p 0.0074. However, the catalase protein was up-regulated by the nano form of quercetin when using lymphocytes from TB patients and showed significant changes at *p 0.0236. In conclusion, the nano form was found to be more efficient at the reduction of DNA damage in the Comet and micronucleus assays. Also, it down-regulated COX1 and Bcl-2 and up-regulated the catalase proteins indicating a possible role for quercetin, in genoprotection to TB through its enzyme modulating effect. / Libyan Embassy

No description available.

Synthetic antioxidants have traditionally been added directly to food products in a single initial dose to protect against oxidation of lipids and generation of free radicals. Natural antioxidants have been shown to undergo loss of activity and become prooxidants at high concentrations; therefore, a need exists to develop active packaging which can gradually deliver antioxidants in a controlled manner. The objectives of this research were to (1) form and characterize cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with the natural antioxidants, alpha-tocopherol and quercetin, (2) incorporate cyclodextrin inclusion complexes of natural antioxidants into linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and (3) measure the release kinetics of inclusion complexes of natural antioxidants from LLDPE into a model food system. Cyclodextrin inclusion complexes of alpha-tocopherol and quercetin were formed by the coprecipitation method and characterized in the solid state by NMR, IR spectroscopy, and thermal analyses. Solid inclusion complex products of alpha-tocopherol:beta-cyclodextrin and quercetin:gamma-cyclodextrin had molar ratios of 1.7:1 as determined by UV spectrophotometry, which were equivalent to 18.1% (w/w) alpha-tocopherol and 13.0% (w/w) quercetin. Free and cyclodextrin complexed antioxidant additives were compounded with a twin-screw mixer into two LLDPE resin types followed by compression molding into films. Release of alpha-tocopherol and quercetin from LLDPE films into coconut oil at 30 °C was quantified by HPLC during 4 weeks of storage. The total release of alpha-tocopherol after 4 weeks was 70% from the free form and 8% from the complexed form averaged across both LLDPE resins. The mechanism by which alpha-tocopherol was released was modified due to its encapsulation inside the beta-cyclodextrin cavity within the LLDPE matrix as indicated by its diffusion coefficient decreasing by two orders of magnitude. Molecular encapsulation of natural antioxidants using cyclodextrins may be used as a controlled release mechanism within polymer food packaging to gradually deliver an effective antioxidant concentration to a food product, thereby, limiting oxidation, maintaining nutritional quality, and extending shelf life. / Ph. D.

Die mittlere Lebenserwartung des Menschen ist über die letzten 200 Jahre kontinuierlich gestiegen. Da Langlebigkeit ohne Gesundheit wenig Wert besitzt, ist es ein zentrales Anliegen, das Auftreten altersbedingter Krankheiten zu mindern. Besonders pflanzliche Phytochemikalien, im speziellen Polyphenole (PPs), sollen erheblich an der Gesundheitsförderung mitwirken. Die exakten Mechanismen jedoch, welche die Wirkvielfalt erklären könnten, sind nicht im Detail bekannt. Diese Fragen können nur durch in vivo Studien an Modelorganismen beantwortet werden, die sowohl die Lebensdauer, sowie physiologische und genetische Parameter einschließen. In dieser Studie wurden drei PPs mit lebensverlängernden Eigenschaften in C. elegans identifiziert: Quercetin (Q), Kaffeesäure (CA) und Rosmarinsäure (RA). Für alle drei PPs wurden hormetische Konzentration-Wirkungs-Kurven gefunden, dennoch war die Hormetin-typische Aktivierung einer Stressantwort (gemessen als Geneexpressions-Level von Hitzeschock-Proteinen) auf Q und RA beschränkt. Eine Umverteilung von Ressourcen nach dem Prinzip der „Disposable Soma Theorie“ konnte anhand von Abweichungen in der Größe, verändertem Lipid-Metabolismus und verzögerter Reproduktion (bei gleichbleibender Anzahl der Nachkommen), für alle drei PPs gezeigt werden. Während direkte CR-Effekte ausgeschlossen wurden, ist dies nicht möglich für durch CA und RA ausgelöste indirekte CR-Effekte, da beide die Lebensspanne von sir-2.1 Mutanten nicht verlängern konnten. Alle drei PPs verlängerten die Lebensspanne von mev-1 Mutanten, jedoch wurde eine erhöhte TAC in vivo und eine reduzierte oxidative Schädigung, nur durch Q- und CA- Gabe erreicht. Die genetischen Wirkwege der PPs wurden durch Lebensdauer- und Thermotoleranztests mit in alters-relevanten Genen mutierten Nematoden definiert. Die gesundheitsfördernden Eigenschaften von CA und RA konnten so osr-1, sek-1, sir-2.1 and unc-43, sowie daf-16 im Falle von CA, zugeschrieben werden. Die Mechanismen von Q wurden in größerem Umfang, durch die Integration von durchgeführten Lebensdauertests und Microarray-Studien einerseits und einer umfassenden Meta-Analyse von veröffentlichten, alters-relevanten Genexpressions-Profilen andererseits, analysiert. Q wirkt vermutlich durch ein komplexes Zusammenspiel von konservierten genetischen Signalwegen, im Speziellen dem Insulin-ähnlichen (ILS), TGF-beta, p38 MAPK, CAMKII und möglicherweise auch über eine von der Keimbahn und somatischen Gonade ausgehenden Signalwirkung. Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass sowohl in vivo antioxidative und prooxidative Eigenschaften, die Modulation auf Genebene, sowie eine Umverteilung von Ressourcen zu gewissen Teilen (abhängig vom PP) zur Lebensverlängerung beitragen. / The mean life expectancy of humans has increased continuously over the last 200 years. Since longevity is of little value in the absence of health, it is a central request to prevent the increasing burden of age-related diseases. It is suggested that phytochemicals in plants, specifically the polyphenols (PPs), are important factors to support the overall well-being. However, the precise mechanisms that can explain, in full, the magnitude of impact remains elusive. This knowledge gap can only be plugged by in vivo model organism approaches that integrate lifespan assays with physiological, and genetic parameters following the ingestion of PPs. In this study, three PPs with life-extending properties in C. elegans were identified: Quercetin (Q), Caffeic acid (CA) and Rosmarinic acid (RA). The underlying mechanisms were systematically studied by a broad spectrum of functional and genetic investigations. For all three compounds, life extension was characterized by hormetic concentration-response curves, but stress-response induction, a hallmark of hormetin action, was restricted to Q and RA, at least when assessed at the level of gene expression of heat shock proteins. A reallocation of resources in a disposable soma-like pattern could be shown for all three PPs, because the exposure to Q, CA and RA resulted in variations in body size, altered lipid-metabolism and a tendency towards a delay in reproductive timing. However, the total number of offspring was unaltered. While direct CR effects arising from reduced food uptake could be rejected, an indirect CR effect cannot be excluded for CA and RA, as these PPs failed to provoke longevity in sir-2.1 mutants. Furthermore, the in vitro versus in vivo antioxidative properties were evaluated. While all three PPs could prolong mev-1 lifespan, only Q and CA were shown to increase the TAC in vivo and reduce oxidative damage in the nematodes. To define the genetic pathways of PP action, lifespan and thermotolerance assays were performed in mutant animals devoid of aging-relevant genetic players. These experiments revealed that the health gaining properties of CA and RA both rely on osr-1, sek-1, sir-2.1 and unc-43, plus daf-16 in the case of CA. The mechanisms of Q action are partly distinct and were analyzed in more detail by integrating own mutant lifespan assays and microarray studies with an extensive meta-analysis of published gene expression profiles obtained under aging-relevant conditions. Quercetin is proposed to act through a complex interplay of conserved genetic pathways, for example Insulin-like signaling (ILS), TGF-beta signaling, p38 MAPK, CaMKII, and possibly also due to germline and somatic gonad signaling. Taken together, hormesis, in vivo antioxidative/prooxidative properties, modulation of genetic players, as well as the re-allocation of resources all contribute (to some extent and dependent on the polyphenol) to life extension. Summary 1

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:25:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Eula_Costa.pdf: 1234220 bytes, checksum: 9b0a765b29a3c24c4ab992c52d3cab65 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-25 / Considering the vast biotechnological applicability described for Beauveria bassiana, the versatility microbial biotransformation exhibits, the important biological activities attributed to the flavonoid quercetin, the therapeutic perspectives of its use, and the activity the enzyme quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase has on quercetin, we intended to evaluate quercetin biotransformation by B. bassiana ATCC 7159 and isolates of B. bassiana collected in the Midwestern Region of Brazil. The objectives of this study were: evaluate the potential of B. bassiana isolates and B. bassiana ATCC 7159 to produce metabolites of quercetin; investigate quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase production by the isolates and B. bassiana ATCC 7159; determine the genetic variability among the isolates of B. bassiana and establish possible correlations between molecular data and quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase production. All isolates and B. bassiana ATCC 7159 were capable of metabolizing quercetin and form compounds described in mammalian quercetin biotransformation studies and isolate IP 94 produced a higher number of metabolites compared with the others. B. bassiana ATCC 7159 and isolates IP 94, IP 98, IP 129, IP 147 produced methylated metabolites, while isolates IP 8, IP 11, and IP 94 produced glucuronidated metabolites. All the isolates produced sulphated metabolites and methylated and glucuronidated metabolites simultaneously and were capable to synthesize quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase. Quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase synthesis on PDSM, used in its biotransformation process was higher than on basic medium. B. bassiana ATCC 7159 and the isolates IP 11 and IP 132 presented the highest quercetin 2,3-dioxigenase activity, whereas the isolates IP 153 and IP 3a presented the lowest ones. Quercetin metabolites formation and quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase production were not correlated with the geographic origin of the isolates. Genetic variability analysis by RAPD allowed the separation of the isolates into three distinct groups and showed high genetic diversity among them; however, the RFLP-PCR of ITS region did not provide characteristic markers to differentiate the isolates. The ITS region sequencing confirmed the identity of the isolates as B. bassiana. The results obtained can lead to the following conclusions: B. bassiana constitutes an interesting alternative to the use of chemical methods and biological systems to produce quercetin metabolites, but is necessary to optimize the biotransformation process in order to obtain a more expressive amount of metabolites; B. bassiana is able to produce quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase, although more detailed studies are needed to explain its production pathway, regulation, and mechanism of action. / Considerando-se a vasta aplicabilidade biotecnológica descrita para Beauveria bassiana, a versatilidade que a biotransformação microbiana apresenta, as importantes atividades biológicas atribuídas ao flavonóide quercetina, as perspectivas quanto ao seu uso terapêutico e ainda a atividade da enzima quercetina 2,3-dioxigenase sobre a quercetina, pretendeu-se avaliar a metabolização da quercetina pela cepa B. bassiana ATCC 7159 e por isolados de B. bassiana obtidos na Região Centro-Oeste do Brasil. Os objetivos específicos do presente estudo foram: avaliar o potencial da cepa B. bassiana ATCC 7159 e dos isolados em produzir metabólitos da quercetina; investigar a produção de quercetina 2,3-dioxigenase pela cepa B. bassiana ATCC 7159 e pelos isolados; determinar a variabilidade genética entre os isolados de B. bassiana e estabelecer possíveis correlações entre dados moleculares e produção de quercetina 2,3-dioxigenase. Todos os isolados e a cepa B. bassiana ATCC 7159 foram capazes de metabolizar a quercetina formando compostos descritos nos estudos da metabolização deste flavonóide em mamíferos e o isolado IP 94 produziu um número maior de compostos quando comparado aos demais. B. bassiana ATCC 7159 e os isolados IP 94, IP 98, IP 129, IP 147 geraram metabólitos metilados, enquanto os isolados IP 8, IP 11 e IP 94 geraram metabólitos monoglicuronados. Todos os isolados estudados geraram metabólitos sulfatados e metabólitos metilados e glicuronados simultaneamente e foram capazes de sintetizar a enzima quercetina 2,3-dioxigenase. A síntese de quercetina 2,3-dioxigenase no meio de cultivo PDSM, utilizado para a biotransformação microbiana da quercetina, foi superior à obtida em meio mínimo. B. bassiana ATCC 7159 e os isolados IP 11 e IP 132 apresentaram maior atividade da quercetina 2,3-dioxigenase, enquanto os isolados IP 153 e IP 3a apresentaram as mais baixas. A formação dos metabólitos da quercetina e a produção de quercetina 2,3-dioxigenase não se relacionaram com a origem geográfica dos isolados. A análise da variabilidade genética por meio de RAPD permitiu dividir os isolados em três grupos distintos e mostrou elevada diversidade genética entre eles; porém, a análise por meio de RFLP-PCR da região ITS não permitiu diferenciar os isolados. A análise da sequência da região ITS confirmou a identidade dos fungos como B. bassiana. Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que: a biotransformação microbiana da quercetina por meio do fungo B. bassiana constitui alternativa ao uso de métodos químicos e sistemas biológicos para a produção de metabólitos da quercetina, sendo necessário otimizar o processo de biotransformação para a obtenção de quantidades expressivas dos metabólitos; B. bassiana é capaz de produzir a enzima extracelular quercetina 2,3-dioxigenase, sendo necessários estudos mais detalhados para elucidar sua via de produção, regulação e mecanismo de ação.