Apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone, 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one) is a
flavonoid found in many fruits, vegetables, and herbs, the most abundant sources being the leafy herb parsley and dried flowers of chamomile. Present in dietary sources as a
glycoside, it is cleaved in the gastrointestinal lumen to be absorbed and distributed as
apigenin itself. For this reason, the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract is exposed to higher concentrations of
apigenin than tissues at other locations. This would also be true for epithelial
cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. We consider the evidence for actions of
apigenin that might hinder the ability of
gastrointestinal cancers to progress and spread.
Apigenin has been shown to inhibit cell growth, sensitize
cancer cells to elimination by apoptosis, and hinder the development of blood vessels to serve the growing
tumor. It also has actions that alter the relationship of the
cancer cells with their microenvironment.
Apigenin is able to reduce
cancer cell
glucose uptake, inhibit remodeling of the extracellular matrix, inhibit
cell adhesion molecules that participate in
cancer progression, and oppose
chemokine signaling pathways that direct the course of
metastasis into other locations. As such,
apigenin may provide some additional benefit beyond existing drugs in slowing the emergence of metastatic disease.