What is Luteolin?

Luteolin is a commonly found natural chemical that can be found in several plant species like carrots, peppers, celery, cucumbers and many more. It is a flavone that is a member of the flavonoid type compound class. It has exhibited a wide range of biological activities like:

• Antioxidative
• Anti-cancer
• Neuroprotective
• Cardioprotective
• and more.

Antioxidant Activity

Several research projects have been devoted in order to explore flavonoids as anticancer agents. Luteolin being a prime example of this compound class has shown an ability to act as an antioxidant. In order to be a successful antioxidant, Luteolin has to be able to counteract several reactive molecules like reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

First and foremost Luteolin can help to protect healthy lipids. Overoxidation of them could lead to several problems. In our blood system oxidation of healthy lipids like low-density lipoproteins and cholesterol could cause sedimentation on blood vessels leading to cardiovascular problems. Also, preventing oxidation of lipids is associated with better body weight regulation in case of increased fat diets.

Also, increasing antioxidative potential could lead to protection of the DNA that prevents any unwanted cell mutation hence leading to cancer.

Although previous research suggests that flavonoids like Luteolin have poor bioavailability, current research has found that, indeed, Luteolin can bind with proteins and carbohydrates increasing uptake, therefore, increasing antioxidative activity in our bodies.

Luteolin as Anticancer Tool

As we discussed, the antioxidative potential of Luteolin could be a great factor for it to be a tool as an anticancer prevention tool and therapeutic agent. But not only that, several research have suggested that Luteolin’s structure is indeed favorable to induce several cellular pathways.

It is able to suppress cell proliferation and carcinogenesis by inhibiting multiple enzymes responsible for such processes, inhibiting new blood vessel formation in cancer tissue, promoting programmed cell death – apoptosis and much more.

Luteolin has showed promising results in the treatment of several types of cancer like:

• breast
• colon
• pancreatic
• prostate
• glioblastoma
• lung
• kidney
• skin 
• and more

Luteolin Promoting Neuroprotective Effect

Luteolin has been quite extensively studied for its neuroprotective properties. As it can easily penetrate the blood-brain barrier it has been tested for several neural diseases.

Already known from folk medicine, extracts containing luteolin have been used to treat epilepsy. It has been proved that luteolin can lower oxidative stress, reduce inflammation and inhibit several enzymes in the brain that could lead to seizures.

Luteolin has also been looked at as a possible treatment for Autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes-associated cognitive decline, brain injury from trauma and many more. 

Cardioprotective Effects of Luteolin

Antioxidative potential can also work in favor of our cardiovascular health as well. Previously we mentioned that antioxidants like Luteolin can prevent blood blockage from overoxidized healthy fats. This in fact could prevent diseases like coronary artery disease, heart failure and atherosclerosis. 

Other studies suggest more positive effects of luteolin like improving cardiomyocyte function, regulates nitric oxide production and prevents damage from its free radicals, improves cardiac functions in case of heart failure and more.

Luteolin has a wide range of biological activities like the ones that we discussed and even more. For more natural products visit our store.