Apigenin

Apigenin (ApI) is also called as 5,7,4′-trihydroxyflavone. It is a natural compound, found in several fruits and herbs, like, oranges, onions and parsley.

Apigenin has been used:

• to test its anti-cancer effects as a reference agent to treat various digestive track and liver cancer cells in in vitro studies
• as stimuli and inhibitor to test its anti-inflammatory effects on in vitro inflammatory responses due to dietary and metabolic changes of rural- and urban-living Tanzanians
• as a reference standard to identify the phenolic compounds in olive mill wastewater and pomace

A plant flavonoid that has been found to inhibit cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle at the G₂/M phase. Inhibition of growth through cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis appear to be related to induction of p53. Inhibits PMA-mediated tumor promotion by inhibiting protein kinase C and the resulting suppression of oncogene expression. It has also been reported to inhibit topoisomerase I-catalyzed DNA re-ligation and enhance gap junctional intercellular communication.

Apigenin (ApI) blocks the development of thyroid cancer cells by attenuating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphorylation of ERK mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Apigenin participates in the modulation of different signaling cascades. It possesses several functions such as, antiapoptosis, anti-inflammation, anticancer, antibacterial and antioxidant effects.