It has been revealed the fact that an important flavonoid that boosts memory can fight cancer, brain fog, and inflammation. Check out the latest reports about the matter below.
Flavonoid has massive health benefits
Luteolin, a flavonoid that can be found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, has a long history of use as an herbal remedy for anti-inflammatory purposes.
It is a prominent ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine and is often used to treat conditions such as upper respiratory tract infections, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
This natural compound is also known for its ability to counteract oxidative stress in the body. Recently, researchers have discovered that it may also have the potential to help fight cancer.
Antioxidant properties
Flavonoids are compounds that have strong antioxidant properties. They play a vital role in safeguarding the body against reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are molecules containing oxygen that are naturally produced in the body as by-products of different metabolic processes.
Although some ROS are necessary for cell signaling and immune response, excessive ROS can be harmful. When ROS is produced in excess, it can result in oxidative stress, which damages cell components such as proteins, lipids, and DNA.
This, in turn, contributes to the aging process and various diseases such as cancer, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and atherosclerosis. Luckily, Luteolin has been found to scavenge ROS and reduce oxidative stress, thereby helping to prevent chronic diseases and cancer.
Anti-cancer benefits
Luteolin, a natural compound found in many plants, has been extensively researched for its anti-cancer properties. According to a 2021 study published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, luteolin has the potential to prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells, as well as inhibit the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow.
In addition, luteolin can initiate a process in cancer cells that leads to their programmed self-destruction, and also reverse specific changes that contribute to cancer development. It achieves this by altering cell structures and increasing the presence of reactive molecules within cells.
Although most of these findings are from lab and animal studies, they suggest that luteolin could be a promising candidate in the fight against cancer.
An in vivo study on rats has shown that luteolin can strengthen the outer part of cells and reduce the chances of developing colon cancer, indicating that luteolin may have a protective effect against the disease.
Studies have shown that luteolin, a natural compound found in various fruits and vegetables, can be effective in reducing the spread of cancer cells.
For instance, in a study conducted on rats, luteolin was found to reduce the spread of colon cancer cells to the liver by 24 percent.
In another study, luteolin in combination with gemcitabine (Gem), a chemotherapy medication, was able to cause significant tumor cell death in pancreatic tumor cells compared to the control group.
Similarly, in a 2018 study conducted on rats, luteolin was found to be a beneficial complementary treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer that is often resistant to chemotherapy.
This study found that luteolin reduced the number of certain cells that promote the growth of blood vessels in tumors, and triggered a process called apoptosis, which is a way that cells self-destruct, specifically in liver cells.
Moreover, a 2017 study concluded that luteolin also reduced the levels of certain proteins in cancer cells, resulting in slower growth and movement of ovarian cancer cells.
Additionally, luteolin has been shown to be effective against many other cancer types, including lung, breast, glioblastoma, prostate, colon, liver, and head and neck cancer.
Anti-inflammatory effects and neuroprotection
Luteolin is a compound that has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing and inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-alpha, iNOS, and COX-2. This makes it a promising candidate for treating various inflammatory diseases.
Cytokines are signaling proteins that regulate the immune system’s inflammation response in the body. This is significant because chronic inflammation is considered the root cause of many diseases.
Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effects of luteolin extend to reducing neuroinflammation, which is the inflammation of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. As we age, many of us experience memory loss and issues with brain function.
Pro-inflammatory cytokines called microglia play a role in cognitive aging, as they can become dysregulated during the aging process.
Several studies have demonstrated that luteolin not only improved memory in older mice but also effectively reduced inflammatory microglia in the aging brain, thereby improving cognitive function.
