Abstract
Flavonoids are interesting molecules synthetized by plants. They can be found abundantly in seeds and fruits, determining the color, flavor, and other organoleptic characteristics, as well as contributing to important nutritional aspects. Beyond these characteristics, due to their biochemical properties and characteristics, they can be considered bioactive compounds. Several interesting studies have demonstrated their biological activity in different cellular and physiological processes in high-order organisms including humans. The flavonoid molecular structure confers the capability of reacting with and neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS), behaving as scavengers in all processes generating this class of molecules, such as UV irradiation, a process widely present in plant physiology. Importantly, the recent scientific literature has demonstrated that flavonoids, in human physiology, are active compounds acting not only as scavengers but also with the important role of counteracting the inflammation process. Among the wide variety of flavonoid molecules, significant results have been shown by investigating the role of the flavones luteolin and luteolin-7-O-glucoside (LUT-7G). For these compounds, experimental results demonstrated an interesting anti-inflammatory action, both in vitro and in vivo, in the interaction with JAK/STAT3, NF-κB, and other pathways described in this review. We also describe the effects in metabolic pathways connected with inflammation, such as cellular glycolysis, diabetes, lipid peroxidation, and effects in cancer cells. Moreover, the inhibition of inflammatory pathway in endothelial tissue, as well as the NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, demonstrates a key role in the progression of such phenomena. Since these micronutrient molecules can be obtained from food, their biochemical properties open new perspectives with respect to the long-term health status of healthy individuals, as well as their use as a coadjutant treatment in specific diseases.
Highlights
Activation signaling via the upregulation of NLRP3 and the synthesis of pro-interleukin 1β (IL−1β) [67]. This cascade of pro-inflammatory events could be reverted by luteolin treatment in vitro and in vivo models since the flavone significantly reduces the cleavage of procaspase-1 and pro-IL−1β by NLRP3 inflammasome in murine macrophages
This metabolic switch is known as the “Warburg effect” and it is orchestrated by the dysregulation of many factors, among these, glucose transporters (GLUT), hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), pyruvate kinase muscle isoform 2 (PKM2), and hexokinase 2 (HEK2) metabolic enzymes [90]
Plant-derived food and fruits rich in oligosaccharides and fibers provide a major source of polyphenols, whose benefits by improving individual health have been fully accepted in the scientific literature
Summary
Flavonoids are polyphenolic secondary metabolites synthetized by plants, being abundantly found in seeds and fruits. Especially in occidental the wide availability of foods richand in sugar and fat increases the onset of chronic countries, illnesses such as metabolic, cardiovascular, neuand fat increases the onset[3] Besides illnesses their relevance plants, flavonoids can potentially rodegenerative disorders [3].[4,5]. The group of fla0 ,40 ,5,7-tetrahydroxy flavone) and apigenin (40 ,5,7-tri-hydroxy-flavone) that, like luteolin (3 vones includes luteolin (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxy flavone) and apigenin (4′,5,7-tri-hydroxythe other flavonoids (see Table 2), exert different biological activities due to modifications in the chemical structure as hydroxylation, O-/C-glycosylation, O-methylation, and acylation [18]. Following absorption by intestinal epithelial cells, flavonoid aglycons are mainly conjugated to glucuronic acid or sulfonate group by phase II enzymes, such as uridine-50 diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) and sulfotransferases (SULT), respectively [32]. Despite the wide class of flavonoids showing bioactive properties, this review is principally focused on the biological properties of luteolin compound and its glucoside form, LUT-7G.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
