Luteolin: A Flavonoid that Has Multiple Cardio-Protective Effects and Its Molecular Mechanisms

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A well-monitored diet with a sufficient intake of fruits and vegetables has been confirmed as a primary prevention of CVD. Plant constituents such as flavonoids have been shown to confer healthy benefits. Luteolin (Lut), a kind of flavonoid, possesses anti-oxidative, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent scientific literature has reported the cardiac protective effects of Lut in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide an update and detailed overview with cardio-protective molecular mechanisms of Lut with a focus on multiple intrinsic and extrinsic effectors. We further explore how these mechanisms participate in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, heart failure (HF) and atherosclerosis (AS). A proper understanding of the cardiovascular protective effects and the relative mechanisms of Lut may provide the possibility of new drug design and development for CVD. With the previous studies mainly focused on basic research, we need to advance the prospects of its further clinical utilization against CVD, large prospective clinical trials of Lut are needed to observe its therapeutic effects on patients with I/R injury, HF and AS, especially on the effective therapeutic dosage, and safety of long-term administration.

Phenolic Compounds Exerting Lipid-Regulatory, Anti-Inflammatory and Epigenetic Effects as Complementary Treatments in Cardiovascular Diseases

“…Luteolin (3 ,4 ,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) ( Figure 4) is a member of the flavones family and is found in carrots, cabbage, artichokes, tea, celery and apples [194]. Luteolin and its glucosides are absorbed quickly in the intestine.…”

Luteolin attenuates sepsis‑induced myocardial�injury by enhancing autophagy in mice

“…Luteolin, a common bioactive flavonoid polyphenolic compound, can be isolated from numerous vegetables, fruits and herbs (10). Luteolin has been shown to have diverse pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and other biological properties (11,12).…”

An HPLC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of luteolin and its major metabolites in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

“…Luteolin (3′,4′,5,7‐tetrahydroxyflavone, LUT, Figure ), a prevalent flavonoid, existed widely in a variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs . LUT exhibits several pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐apoptotic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective activities, and so on . The major metabolic pathways of LUT are methylation and glucuronidation mediated by catechol‐O‐methyltransferases and UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases, respectively .…”

“…Luteolin (3 ′ ,4 ′ ,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone, LUT, Figure 1), a prevalent flavonoid, existed widely in a variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs [1]. LUT exhibits several pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective activities, and so on [2][3][4][5][6][7]. The major metabolic pathways of LUT are methylation and glucuronidation mediated by Article Related Abbreviations: 7-O-gluA-LUT, luteolin-7-O-glucuronide; CHR, chryseriol; DIO, diosmetin; IS, internal standard; i.p., intraperitonea; LLOQ, lower limit of quantification; LUT, luteolin; MRM, multiple reaction monitoring; RE, relative error; AUC, area under the plasma concentration-time curve; T max , time for maximal concentration catechol-O-methyltransferases and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, respectively [8].…”