Luteolin is a naturally occurring flavonoid found in many fruits, vegetables, and herbs—like celery, parsley, and chamomile. It has been gaining attention for its multifaceted anti-cancer potential, acting on both genetic and epigenetic levels.

Luteolin interferes with cancer progression by:

• Inhibiting oncogenic signalling pathways such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK, NF-κB, and Wnt/β-catenin, which are often overactive in cancer cells.
• Inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) by upregulating pro-apoptotic genes and downregulating anti-apoptotic ones.
• Arresting the cell cycle, particularly at the G2/M phase, thereby halting uncontrolled cell division.

Epigenetic Modulation

Luteolin also modulates gene expression without altering DNA sequences:

• It influences microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Luteolin can upregulate tumor-suppressive miRNAs and downregulate oncogenic ones.
• It affects histone modification and DNA methylation, although this area is still under active investigation. These changes can reprogram cancer cells toward a less aggressive state.

Significance

Unlike traditional chemotherapy, luteolin targets multiple pathways simultaneously and may help overcome drug resistance and reduce side effects. It is also being explored in nano formulations to improve its bioavailability and therapeutic impact.

As a researcher working in the Manipal cancer biology lab, we have obtained amazing results using luteolin on cervical cells. We have a couple of papers published that depict the anti-cancer effects of luteolin. Amazingly, it has shown selective effects on cancer cells vis-à-vis the normal fast dividing cells.

Author

Dr. Ritu Raina
School of Life Sciences