Luteolin as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agent: A brief review

According to the World Health Organization, two billion people will be aged 60 years or older by 2050. Aging is a major risk factor for a number of neurodegenerative disorders. These age-related disorders currently represent one of the most important and challenging health problems worldwide. Therefore, much attention has been directed towards the design and development of neuroprotective agents derived from natural sources. These phytochemicals have demonstrated high efficacy and low adverse effects in multiple in vitro and in vivo studies. Among these phytochemicals, dietary flavonoids are an important and common chemical class of bioactive products, found in several fruits and vegetables. Luteolin is an important flavone, which is found in several plant products, including broccoli, pepper, thyme, and celery. Numerous studies have shown that luteolin possesses beneficial neuroprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo. Despite this, an overview of the neuroprotective effects of luteolin has not yet been accomplished. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to provide a review of the available literature regarding the neuroprotective effects of luteolin and its molecular mechanisms of action. Herein, we also review the available literature regarding the chemistry of luteolin, its herbal sources, and bioavailability as a pharmacological agent for the treatment and management of age-related neurodegenerative disorders.