The Therapeutic Potential of Apigenin

Abstract

Several plant bioactive compounds have exhibited functional activities that suggest they could play a remarkable role in preventing a wide range of chronic diseases. The largest group of naturally-occurring polyphenols are the flavonoids, including apigenin. The present work is an updated overview of apigenin, focusing on its health-promoting effects/therapeutic functions and, in particular, results of in vivo research. In addition to an introduction to its chemistry, nutraceutical features have also been described. The main key findings from in vivo research, including animal models and human studies, are summarized. The beneficial indications are reported and discussed in detail, including effects in diabetes, amnesia and Alzheimer’s disease, depression and insomnia, cancer, etc. Finally, data on flavonoids from the main public databases are gathered to highlight the apigenin’s key role in dietary assessment and in the evaluation of a formulated diet, to determine exposure and to investigate its health effects in vivo.

Citrus Flavones: An Update on Sources, Biological Functions, and Health Promoting Properties

“…Apigenin has been the object of intense studies in the last 40 years and among the different beneficial effects for organisms, its activity with respect to different kind of cancers is especially interesting. This feature was nicely described in a recent review [56]. This activity is mainly linked to its antioxidant effect, its capacity to decrease proliferative growth, the arrest of the cell cycle, and its proapoptotic properties [100][101][102][103][104][105][106].…”

“…Citrus flavones, among the identified secondary metabolites in Citrus spp., are the most useful and promising compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity [18,22,[54][55][56][57][58][59]. They are characterized by a basic flavonoid skeleton, but present a well-defined set of substitutions and modifications which make them unique and with specific biological potential.…”

Apoptotic effects of hsian‐tsao (Mesona procumbens Hemsley) on hepatic stellate cells mediated by reactive oxygen species and ERK, JNK, and caspase‐3 pathways

“…Kaempferol inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth and migration through the blockade of an EGFR‐related pathway (Lee & Kim, ). Apigenin has health‐promoting effects or therapeutic functions for chronic diseases, including diabetes, amnesia, Alzheimer's disease, depression, insomnia, and cancer (Salehi et al, ). Caffeic acid has anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral activities (Touaibia, Jean‐Francois, & Doiron, ).…”

Molecular Mechanism of Functional Ingredients in Barley to Combat Human Chronic Diseases

“…The bran extract of hulless barley rich in phenolic acids on the Nε-carboxymethyllysine formation during processing biscuits, which can reduce glycation and benefiting health [41]. Total polyphenols (291.7 mg/100 g) and proanthocyanidins (163.0 [43]. Pigmentations play a protective role under stress conditions, which are caused by flavonoids (yellow, purple, and blue) of Ant2 gene in anthocyanin biosynthesis in barley grain pericarp, meanwhile Ant1 associated with gene encoding an R2R3 myeloblastosis transcription factor [44], but black is caused by phytomelanins and oxidized as well as polymerized phenolic compounds [45].…”