APIGENIN
Apigenin is a natural flavonoid found in many herbs and fruits, as for example Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis). Other apigenin food sources include apples, celery and also some spices as oregano, tarragon, cilantro, basil, parsley, onions, oranges, tea, chamomile and wheat sprouts. Other apigenin herbs as endives and cloves have also a considerable amount of this active constituent.
Recent studies on different types of flavonoids and the benefits of a high dietary intake of fruits and vegetables suggest that the intake of fruits and vegetables rich in certain types of flavonoids, mainly apigenin, epigallocatechin gallate, delphinidin and genistein appear to be associated with a lower incidence and risk of cancer [9].
CHEMICAL FORMULA
Formula: (4', 5, 7,-trihydroxyflavone)
Apigenin, is also a flavonoid believed to have some influence over the mild sedative effects claimed by the herbs that contain this active principle. In recent scientific studies the flavonoid apigenin, was found to also act as an anti-inflammatory agent [1][5], also exerting antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties [5] . The National Toxicology Program from the US Government cited in one of its articles[2]:
Pure apigenin is used primarily in research as a protein kinase inhibitor that may suppress tumor promotion and that has anti-proliferating effects
Scientific evidence was found about the benefits of apigenin on the suppression of cancer cells. In a study carried out by the UC Riverside biochemists published in the online edition of the National Academy of Sciences [2], Xuan Liu, professor of biochemistry, and Xin Cai, a post-doctoral researcher, found that apigenin is able to find the protein p53, a well known tumor suppressor that acts as an anti-cancerous agent by stopping cancer cells growth and killing them.
The study reveals how apigenin, a flavonoid found in chamomile, parsley and other herbs and vegetables, is also able to not only locate the protein p53, but also to bring it to the cell nucleus where it is able to stop the cell growth in those cases in which the cell DNA has been damaged by cancer.
APIGENIN PROPERTIES
APIGENIN FOR PROSTATE CANCER
In a recent study done on mice, apigenin was also found able to suppress prostate cancer progression inhibiting angiogenesis and metastasis. It is also well known that diets rich in flavones, as Apigenin, are very beneficial for our health, protecting it against cardiovascular and neurological disorders.
APIGENIN FOR LEUKEMIA
In studies on the effectiveness of apigenin on the treatment of leukemia, scientists discovered how apigenin was able to induced natural cell death (apoptosis) in U937 human leukemia cells, exerting also anti-leukemic activity in vivo. It was also discovered that tumor growth in U937 xenografts was attenuated, something that raises the hopes for the medical industry to find proper ways to use this chemopreventive properties on the development of new medicines against leukemia.
Apigenin has been subject of many clinical trials and investigations for its believed capabilities to arrest the progression of carcinogenesis.
The preventive use of apigenin from natural sources seems to be, as well as any diets rich in fruits and vegetables, a good way to prevent cancer occurrence.
APIGENIN IN HUMAN MYELOGENOUS ERYTHROLEUKAMEMIA AND BLADDER CARCINOMA
The effects of various types of flavones, among them Apigenin and Luteolin, on two different cancer cell lines, including human chronic myelogenous erythroleukaemia (K562) and bladder carcinoma (RT112) were also part of other studies in the subject of flavones inhibitory properties on human tumor cancer cell lines. The results of one of this studies showed taht the cytotoxic effects of flavones (apigenin and luteolin) on the already mentioned cancer cell lines suggested that flavones Apigenin and Luteolin could be considered as potential chemotherapeutic agents [8].
Last but not least Apigenin was also been found in tropical citrus species as Citrus microcarpa , Citrus hystrix , Citrus medica, Citrus suhuiensis, oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). The health benefits of oregano were also discussed in a previous article on the Health benefits of Mediterranean Diet Herbs [9],[10].
REFERENCES
[1] Pubmed: Anti-inflammatory activity of structurally related flavonoids, Apigenin, Luteolin and Fisetin.
Funakoshi-Tago M, Nakamura K, Tago K, Mashino T, Kasahara T.
Department of Biochemistry, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan.
[2] National Toxicology Program. NIH-sponsored study by UC Riverside biochemists published in the online edition of teh National Academy of Sciences.
[3] Apigenin Attenuates Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Signaling in an Autochthonous Mouse Prostate Cancer Model.
Shukla S, Maclennan GT, Fu P, Gupta S.
Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, 2109 Adelbert Road, Wood Research Tower, RTG01, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA.
[4] Apigenin: a promising molecule for cancer prevention.
Shukla S, Gupta S.
Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
[5] Apigenin and cancer chemoprevention: progress, potential and promise (review).
Patel D, Shukla S, Gupta S.
Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
[6] Apigenin induces apoptosis in human leukemia cells and exhibits anti-leukemic activity in vivo via inactivation of Akt and activation of JNK.
Budhraja A, Gao N, Zhang Z, Son YO, Cheng S, Wang X, Ding S, Hitron A, Chen G, Luo J, Shi X.
Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky.
[7] Apigenin-induced apoptosis of leukemia cells is mediated by a bimodal and differentially regulated residue-specific phosphorylation of heat-shock protein-27.
Gonzalez-Mejia ME, Voss OH, Murnan EJ, Doseff AI.
Department of Molecular Genetics, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, The Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
[8] Flavonoids in tropical citrus species.
Roowi S, Crozier A.
Plant Products and Human Nutrition Group, Graham Kerr Building, School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom.
[9] Anticancer properties of flavonoids: roles in various stages of carcinogenesis.
Clere N, Faure S, Martinez MC, Andriantsitohaina R.
INSERM UMR U694, Université d'Angers, Angers, France.
[10] Antioxidant capacity and total phenolic contents of oregano (Origanum vulgare), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) from Romania.
Spiridon I, Colceru S, Anghel N, Teaca CA, Bodirlau R, Armatu A.
Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica-Voda Alley, Iasi 700487, Romania.
