Luteolin and colon cancer

A study published in the BMC Gastroenterology shows that the antioxidant luteolin may protect against the development of colon cancer, which is the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death in the West. Luteolin is found in a variety of vegetables, fruits and medicinal herbs, including carrots, celery, green peppers, rosemary, thyme and peppermint.

Past studies have shown luteolin  to function as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent, as well as inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the liver and lung cancer and leukemia cell lines. Results of this study showed that luteolin blocks the growth of colon cancer by preventing the secretion of chemicals that are important for the development of colon cancer cells.

Studies such as this one will determine whether luteolin can be developed into a chemopreventive agent for use against colon cancer.

To read the full article in BMC Gastroenterology, visit www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/12/9