Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Aspects of Apigenin: A Review

Abstract

Background: A bioactive flavone, apigenin is plentifully present in common vegetables and fruits including spinach, parsley, celery stalks, peas, black olives, olive oil, grapefruit, kumquat, honey etc. It is a low-toxic flavonoid. Flavonoids are currently considered an important component in a huge range of cosmetic, pharmacological, and medical formulations. According to epidemiological research flavone-rich diets have been related to a lower risk of cancer notably, lung, skin, prostate, breast cancers and certain hematological disorders. It has been proposed as a preventive agent in other disorders such as oxidative stress, inflammation, cardiovascular and neurological issues. Apigenin-enriched medications are more effective for some chronic conditions, but if consumed regularly, they can harm animal and human health such as stomach discomfort, skin irritation, numbness and prolonged sedation etc. Apigenin's bioavailability limitations need the development of innovative carriers to increase bioavailability. Flavonoid’s data is gathered from the major public databank in order to emphasize apigenin's important role in the treatment and prevention of numerous illnesses, as well as to explore its health consequences. Method: The literature review of the apigenin was collected from various databases viz. Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Google and Science Direct etc. Results: The compiled data on the therapeutic efficacy of apigenin and its derivatives provides a platform for future researcher. Conclusion: The data revealed the pharmacological effects viz. anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, ischemic stroke and anti-arthritic activities of apigenin isolated by using different solvents and analytical methods that can be useful in the utilization for the development and formulation of herbal preparation by future researchers.