J Cancer Prev.  2016 Dec;21(4):216-226. 10.15430/JCP.2016.21.4.216.

Role of Apigenin in Cancer Prevention via the Induction of Apoptosis and Autophagy

• Sung B
• Chung HY
• Kim ND

• KMID: 2367558
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15430/JCP.2016.21.4.216

Abstract

Apigenin (4"²,5,7-trihydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid commonly found in many fruits and vegetables such as parsley, chamomile, celery, and kumquats. In the last few decades, recognition of apigenin as a cancer chemopreventive agent has increased. Significant progress has been made in studying the chemopreventive aspects of apigenin both in vitro and in vivo. Several studies have demonstrated that the anticarcinogenic properties of apigenin occur through regulation of cellular response to oxidative stress and DNA damage, suppression of inflammation and angiogenesis, retardation of cell proliferation, and induction of autophagy and apoptosis. One of the most well-recognized mechanisms of apigenin is the capability to promote cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis through the p53-related pathway. A further role of apigenin in chemoprevention is the induction of autophagy in several human cancer cell lines. In this review, we discuss the details of apigenin, apoptosis, autophagy, and the role of apigenin in cancer chemoprevention via the induction of apoptosis and autophagy.

Keyword

Apigenin; Chemoprevention; Apoptosis; Autophagy

MeSH Terms

Apigenin*
Apium graveolens
Apoptosis*
Autophagy*
Cell Cycle Checkpoints
Cell Line
Cell Proliferation
Chamomile
Chemoprevention
DNA Damage
Fruit
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Inflammation
Oxidative Stress
Petroselinum
Rutaceae
Vegetables
Apigenin