Carcinogenicity test of quercetin and rutin in golden hamsters by oral administration.

Quercetin and its glycoside, rutin were tested for carcinogenicity in non-inbred golden hamsters of both sexes. In Experiment I, 10% quercetin, 10% rutin, or control diet was given to animals for 735 days. In this experiment, tumors appeared mainly in the forestomach, but the incidence was not statistically different among the three groups. Quercetin and rutin were not carcinogenic under these conditions. In Experiment II, Group 1 was given 4% quercetin diet for 709 days. Group 2 was given 1% quercetin diet for 351 days and then the basal diet for 350 days. Group 3 was given 1% quercetin diet and then 1% croton oil diet and Group 4 was given the basal diet followed by 1% croton oil diet, for the same periods as Group 2. Group 5 was given the basal diet for 701 days. In Experiment II, papillomas of the forestomach appeared in Groups 1, 2, and 5, and papillomatosis in Group 3 and 4. There were no statistical differences among experimental groups and respective controls. Thus, quercetin was not carcinogenic when given at the concentrations of 4% and 1%; even with the administration of 1% croton oil after 1% quercetin, there was no increase in tumor incidence.