Review Focusing on Molecular Mechanisms of Induction of Apoptosis in Different Cancers by a Flavone: Luteolin

Luteolin (3’,4’,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone), an emerging anticancer flavone, has been reported to have other activities like antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardioprotective and anti-allergic activities. In recent times, more attention has been paid to search the mechanism of apoptogenic effects of luteolin. Reports about the anticancer mechanism of luteolin published in Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed are summarized in this study. Luteolin has shown potential against different cancers like breast, gastric, lung, hepatocellular, prostate etc. Mechanism of apoptosis in breast cancer cells is reported as inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor-mediated pathway in MDA-MB 231 ER negative breast cancer cells by luteolin. Induction of apoptosis was linked with the inactivation of the critical kinases ERK and AKT in addition to P70S6K and mTOR in prostate cancer cells. Our literature survey shows that luteolin is a lead compound for anticancer chemotherapy. Further molecular mechanisms of induction of apoptosis should be explored in respect to luteolin in different cancer treatments.