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PubMed2003

Flavone C-glycosides from Viola yedoensis MAKINO.

A new flavone C-glycoside, apigenin 6-C-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-8-C-beta-L-arabinopyranoside, has been isolated from Viola yedoensis together with the known compounds, apigenin 6,8-di-C-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, apigenin 6-C-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-8-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (isoschaftoside), apigenin 6-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-8-C-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (schaftoside), apigenin 6-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-8-C-beta-L-arabinopyranoside (neoschaftoside), apigenin 6,8-di-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (vicenin-2), apigenin 6-C-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-8-C-beta-D-xylopyranoside, apigenin 6-C-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-8-C-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, luteolin 6-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (isoorientin) and luteolin 6-C-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-8-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside (isocarlinoside). The structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and new or revised (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectral assignments are proposed for some compounds.

Flavonoids↗
PubMed1998

Enhancement of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir bystander effect and its antitumor efficacy in vivo by pharmacologic manipulation of gap junctions.

Apigenin, a flavinoid, and lovastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, upregulated gap junction (GJ) function and dye transfer in tumors expressing GJ and were inactive in the GJ-negative tumor line N2a. N2a cells transfected with the connexin 43 gene showed restored cell-to-cell dye transfer, which could then be improved nearly fourfold by addition of apigenin. To test the drugs in HSV thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) tumor killing, mixtures of 90% wild-type (WT) with 10% HSV-tk gene-modified MCA38 adenocarcinoma cells were exposed in vitro to GCV +/- apigenin or lovastatin. A significant bystander effect (BSE) was seen following GCV treatment alone, while neither apigenin or lovastatin alone had any effect on the recovery of viable tumor colonies. However, GCV-treated cultures also exposed to apigenin or lovastatin showed an increased BSE and reduced tumor cell recovery. Thirty percent of mice bearing tumors from the same mixture of 90% WT and 10% HSV-tk MCA38 cells treated with GCV alone became tumor free. Tumor-bearing mice given only two or three injections of lovastatin or apigenin during GCV treatment had a doubling of the antitumor response rate, with 60-70% of the mice achieving complete remission. These results support the hypothesis that the transfer of phosphorylated GCV from HSV-tk gene-expressing cells to neighboring WT tumor cells is a major component of the BSE and that pharmacological manipulation of GJ function with lovastatin or apigenin can result in striking improvement in the antitumor response in mice with tumors modified to contain as few as 10% HSV-tk cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2006

Flavonoids inhibit melanoma lung metastasis by impairing tumor cells endothelium interactions.

Flavonoids comprise a class of low molecular weight compounds displaying a variety of biological activities including inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis. To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying metastasis inhibition, we have employed the B16-BL6 murine melanoma metastasis model. B57BL/6N mice were injected i.v. with tumor cells and Apigenin, Quercetin, or Tamoxifen, each at 50 mg/kg given i.p., and lung tumor cell colonies counted 14-6 days thereafter. Three different injection schedules were used for each drug: (a) daily injection, starting 24 h before injection of the tumor cells; (b) single dose, 24 h preceding tumor challenge; (c) daily injection, starting 24 h after the injection of the tumor cells. All three compounds significantly reduced tumor lung deposits (Apigenin = Quercetin > Tamoxifen). However, when treatment was delayed by 24 h after tumor cells (schedule c), multiple daily doses of Apigenin or Quercetin were less effective that a single dose of the same compound given 24 h before tumor challenge (schedule b). Apigenin and Quercetin, but not Tamoxifen, were found to inhibit VCAM-1 expression in a dose-dependent manner in HUVEC and in murine pulmonary endothelial cells. In ex vivo experiments, the number of tumor cells adhering to lung vessels was significantly diminished in animals treated with a single dose of Apigenin and Quercetin. These findings indicate that the inhibition of tumor cell metastasis by Apigenin or Quercetin may significantly depend on the ability of these compounds to alter the host's microenvironment, further substantiating the role of the intravascular processes in the metastatic cascade.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Determination of flavone C-glycosides in tea.

An HPLC method for the determination of flavone C-glycosides (FCG) from black tea has been developed. Sample clean-up was accomplished by means of polyamide column chromatography, followed by enzyme hydrolysis of interfering compounds such was flavonol glycosides and a second polyamide column chromatographic step. Using HPLC with gradient elution and photodiode array detection eight FCG were separated. Seven FCG were isolated by means of preparative HPLC. Identification was carried out using co-chromatography, FAB(Fast Atom Bombardment)-mass spectrometry and various nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Apigenin 6-C-glucosyl-8-arabinoside (schaftoside) and apigenin 6-C-arabinosyl-8-C-glucoside (isoschaftoside) as well as luteolin 8-C-glucoside (orientin) and luteolin 6-C-glucoside (isoorientin) have been detected in tea for the first time. Three of the other compounds have been identified as apigenin 8-C-glucoside (vitexin), apigenin 6-C-glucoside (isovitexin) and apigenin 6,8-di-C-glucoside (vicenin-2). Their occurrence in tea has been previously reported. From its UV spectrum another compound was concluded to be an apigenin glycoside. The FCG were quantified in a variety of teas of different origins (16 black, two green and one oolong). The total amounts of the FCG were 0.48-2.69 g/kg dry weight. The FCG pattern of teas of different origins were similar to each other and no origin-dependent characteristics have yet been observed. Small amounts of FCG (1.2-2.2 mg/kg) were detected in hydrolysates of high relative molecular mass fractions (Mr > 5000) of a black tea liquor.

Apigenin↗
PubMed2002

Relationships of urinary phyto-oestrogen excretion to BMD in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: Phyto-oestrogens are plant compounds with both oestrogenic and anti-oestrogenic properties. However, it is not known whether natural phyto-oestrogens are beneficial or harmful in human osteoporosis. This study was performed to investigate the relationships between urinary phyto-oestrogens and bone mineral density (BMD) in Korean postmenopausal women. DESIGN: The subjects were classified into osteoporotic, osteopenic and normal groups according to their BMD as defined by WHO criteria. We compared the urinary phyto-oestrogens of each group and studied whether urinary phyto-oestrogens correlate with BMD. PATIENTS: The subjects were 75 Korean postmenopausal women with ages ranging from 52 to 65 years (mean 58 +/- 1.1 years). Mean number of years after menopause was 7.3 +/- 1.3. MEASUREMENTS: Twenty-four-hour urinary phyto-oestrogens were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) and BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, Lunar Expert-XL, Lunar Co., WI, USA). RESULTS: In Korean postmenopausal women, urinary enterolactone (1.46 +/- 1.11 micromol/day) was lower and daidzein (2.59 +/- 3.25 micromol/day) was higher than in western women, and both levels were comparable to those in Japanese women. Daily urinary excretion of genistein and apigenin were 1.09 +/- 0.912 and 0.48 +/- 0.40 micromol/day, respectively. In subjects with osteoporosis, urinary enterolactone was lower (P < 0.05) but apigenin was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in the controls. BMD of L2-L4 correlated positively with urinary enterolactone (r = 0.388, P < 0.01), and BMD of the femoral neck and Ward's triangle correlated positively with urinary enterolactone (r = 0.271, P < 0.05 and r = 0.322, P < 0.05) but negatively with apigenin (r = -0.412, P < 0.01 and r = -0.395, P < 0.01). By multiple stepwise regression, the variables associated with spinal BMD were age, the amount of urinary apigenin and body mass index (BMI). The variables associated with femoral neck BMD were age and urinary apigenin. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, we conclude that urinary phyto-oestrogens, especially enterolactone and apigenin, are related to BMD in Korean postmenopausal women. Our results also suggest the possibility that phyto-oestrogens have differential effects on bone density. Further studies are needed to clarify the exact biological roles of phyto-oestrogenic components on bone metabolism.

4-Butyrolactone↗
PubMed2004

Steroid activities comparison of natural and food wrap compounds in human breast cancer cell lines.

In this study, we tested and compared the endocrine disruption activities of compounds in materials used to package foods (bisphenol A, bisphenol F, and bisphenol A diglycidylether BADGE) with natural molecules (genistein, apigenin, kaempferol, and tangeretin) in the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (ER(+)) and MDA-MB453 (AR(+); GR(+)). Octylphenol was also chosen as a xenoestrogen reference. Two compounds had no estrogenic activity: BADGE and tangeretin. Genistein was the most active compound in the E-Screen assay with MCF-7, followed by octylphenol, bisphenol F, bisphenol A and apigenin, with kaempferol the least potent. All estrogenic compounds competed with 17beta-estradiol for binding to the MCF-7 ER and their estrogenic effects were abolished in the presence of tamoxifen, an ER antagonist. In MDA-MB453 cells transfected with pMMTVneo-Luc, all compounds had anti-androgenic activities, with octylphenol the most potent. Kaempferol, genistein, and apigenin were more potent anti-androgens than bisphenols A or F. The natural compounds had a biphasic effect on luciferase activity. At high concentrations, genistein (10(-5)M) and apigenin (10(-6)M) acted as GR agonists in transfected MDA-MB453 cells. Furthermore, apigenin, at a concentration of 10(-5)M, may act as a partial androgen receptor (AR) agonist, as nilutamide, an AR antagonist, inhibited its activity by 26%.

Anticarcinogenic Agents↗
PubMed2003

Metabolism of flavonoids via enteric recycling: role of intestinal disposition.

The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of intestinal disposition in the first-pass metabolism of flavonoids. A four-site perfused rat intestinal model, rat liver and intestinal microsomes, Caco-2 cell microsomes, and the Caco-2 cell culture model were used. In the four-site model, approximately 28% of perfused aglycones are absorbed (approximately 450 nmol/30 min). Both absorption and subsequent excretion of metabolites were rapid and site-dependent (p < 0.05). Maximal amounts of intestinal conjugates excreted per 30 min were 61 and 150 nmol for genistein and apigenin, respectively. Maximal amounts of biliary conjugates excreted per 30 min were 50 and 30 nmol for genistein and apigenin, respectively. Microsomes, prepared from Caco-2 cells, rat intestine, and rat liver, always glucuronidated apigenin faster than genistein (p < 0.05). In addition, rat jejunal microsomes glucuronidated both flavonoids faster (p < 0.05) than rat intestinal microsomes prepared from other regions. When comparing glucuronidation in different organs, jejunal microsomes often but not always glucuronidated both flavonoids faster than liver microsomes. In the Caco-2 model, both flavonoids were rapidly absorbed and rapidly conjugated, and the conjugates were excreted apically and basolaterally. Similar to the four-site perfusion model, apigenin conjugates were excreted much faster than genistein conjugates (>2.5 times for glucuronic acid, >4.5 times for sulfate; p < 0.05). In conclusion, intestinal disposition may be more important than hepatic disposition in the first-pass metabolism of flavonoids such as apigenin. In conjunction with enterohepatic recycling, enteric recycling may be used to explain why flavonoids have poor systemic bioavailabilities.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Agonist-induced internalization of leukotriene B(4) receptor 1 requires G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 but not arrestins.

The leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) receptor (BLT1) becomes desensitized upon repeated agonist stimulation. Little is known, however, about BLT1 internalization, which follows desensitization in most G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). In the current study, transiently expressed BLT1 readily internalized, after LTB(4) stimulation, in RBL-2H3 cells that express high levels of endogenous GPCR kinase 2 (GRK2) but did not in COS-7 or human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells, which do not overexpress GRK. The internalization of BLT1 could be blocked in RBL-2H3 cells by coexpressing dominant-negative (DN) GRK2 K220R and could be promoted in HEK293 cells by coexpressing wild-type (WT) GRK2. Coexpression of WT or DN nonvisual arrestins had no effect on BLT1 internalization. Moreover, upon stimulation with LTB(4), BLT1 did not induce arrestin-green fluorescence protein redistribution in either cell type, even in the presence of overexpressed GRK2. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments confirmed that BLT1 could associate with GRK2 but not with arrestins. A C-tail-truncated mutant of BLT1 lost the capacity to internalize and associate with GRK2 upon exposure to LTB(4), suggesting that the C-tail was required for receptor internalization and association with GRK2. Taken together, our results indicate that the C terminus of BLT1 plays a pivotal role in receptor internalization and GRK2 association. Moreover, ligand-induced BLT1 internalization is dependent on GRK2 but independent of arrestins. This may allow differential, cell-type-specific signaling in response to LTB(4), depending on GRK expression levels.

Animals↗
PubMed2007

Structure-proteasome-inhibitory activity relationships of dietary flavonoids in human cancer cells.

Diet high in vegetables and fruits has been associated with reduced cancer risk. However, the involved mechanisms are unknown. Previously, we reported that the dietary flavonoid apigenin could inhibit the proteasome activity and induce apoptosis in tumor cells. To further investigate the structure-proteasome-inhibitory activity relationships, we chose and tested five dietary flavonoids, including luteolin, apigenin, chrysin, naringenin and eriodictyol. We found that the order of inhibitory potencies and apoptosis-inducing potencies of these five compounds in 20S purified proteasome and tumor cells was: (1) luteolin > apigenin > chrysin, and (2) apigenin >> naringenin, and luteolin >> eriodictyol. Therefore, flavonoids with hydroxylized B ring and/or unsaturated C ring are natural potent proteasome inhibitors and tumor cell apoptosis inducers. Furthermore, neither apigenin nor luteolin could inhibit the proteasome and induce apoptosis in non-transformed human natural killer cells. This finding may provide a molecular basis for the clinically observed cancer-preventive effects of fruits and vegetables.

Anticarcinogenic Agents↗
PubMed1995

Flavonoids inhibit cytokine-induced endothelial cell adhesion protein gene expression.

Treatment of human endothelial cells with cytokines such as interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interferon-gamma induces the expression of specific leukocyte adhesion molecules on the endothelial cell surface. Interfering with either leukocyte adhesion or adhesion protein upregulation is an important therapeutic target as evidenced by the potent anti-inflammatory actions of neutralizing antibodies to these ligands in various animal models and in patients. In the present study we report that cotreatment of human endothelial cells with certain hydroxyflavones and flavanols blocks cytokine-induced ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin expression on human endothelial cells. One of the most potent flavones, apigenin, exhibited a dose- and time-dependent, reversible effect on adhesion protein expression as well as inhibiting adhesion protein upregulation at the transcriptional level. Apigenin also inhibited IL-1 alpha-induced prostaglandin synthesis and TNF-alpha-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production, suggesting that the hydroxyflavones may act as general inhibitors of cytokine-induced gene expression. Although apigenin did not inhibit TNF-alpha-induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B(p50(NFKB1)/p65(RelA)) we found this flavonoid did inhibit TNF-alpha induced beta-galactosidase activity in SW480 cells stably transfected with a beta-galactosidase reporter construct driven by four NF-kappa B elements, suggesting an action on NF-kappa B transcriptional activation. Adhesion of leukocytes to cytokine-treated endothelial cells was blocked in endothelial cells cotreated with apigenin. Finally, apigenin demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced rat paw edema and delayed type hypersensitivity in the mouse. We conclude that flavonoids offer important therapeutic potential for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory diseases involving an increase in leukocyte adhesion and trafficking.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Effects of hydroxyl group numbers on the B-ring of 5,7-dihydroxyflavones on the differential inhibition of human CYP 1A and CYP1B1 enzymes.

Flavonoids are polyphenols composed of two aromatic rings (A, B) and a heterocyclic ring (C). In order to determine the effects of the number of hydroxyl groups in the B-ring of the flavonoids on human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1 family enzymes, we evaluated the inhibition of CYP1A-dependent 7-ethoxyresorufin omicron-deethylation activity by chrysin, apigenin and luteolin, using bacterial membranes that co-express human CYP1A1, CYP1A2, or CYP1B1 with human NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Chrysin, which possesses no hydroxyl groups in its B-ring, exhibited the most pronounced inhibitory effects on CYP1A2-dependent EROD activity, followed by apigenin and luteolin. On the contrary, CYP1A1-mediated EROD activity was most potently inhibited by luteolin, which is characterized by two hydroxyl groups in its B-ring, followed by apigenin and chrysin. However, all of the 5,7-dihydroxyflavones were determined to similarly inhibit CYP1B1 activity. Chrysin, apigenin, and luteolin exhibited a mixed-type mode of inhibition with regard to CYP1A2, CYP1B1, and CYP1A1, with apparent Ki values of 2.4, 0.5, and 2.0 microM, respectively. These findings suggested that the number of hydroxyl groups in the B-ring of 5,7-dihydroxyflavone might have some influence on the degree to which CYP1A enzymes were inhibited, but not on the degree to which CYP1B1 enzymes were inhibited.

Apigenin↗
PubMed2003

Bioflavonoid stimulation of glutathione transport by the 190-kDa multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1).

In tumor cells, the human multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), confers resistance to a broad spectrum of anticancer agents. MRP1 is also expressed in many normal tissues where it acts as an ATP-dependent transporter of organic anions. Reduced glutathione (GSH) is transported by MRP1 with very low affinity, and certain MRP1 substrates are transported in association with this tripeptide. Previous studies have shown that various dietary flavonoids stimulate the ATPase activity of MRP1 and inhibit transport of its conjugated organic anion substrates but are poor reversers of MRP1-mediated drug resistance. In contrast, many of the same flavonoids markedly stimulate GSH transport by MRP1. In the present study, we found that stimulation of GSH transport in inside-out MRP1-enriched membrane vesicles by apigenin, naringenin, genistein, and quercetin was maximum at a concentration of 30 microM. Apigenin was the most efficacious of the four bioflavonoids, showing a maximal 6-fold increase over basal levels of GSH transport. The apparent K(m) and V(max) for GSH uptake in the presence of 30 microM apigenin were 116 microM and 666 pmol mg(-1) min(-1), respectively. Chemosensitivity assays with control-transfected and MRP1-transfected HeLa cell lines showed that the IC(50) values for apigenin, naringenin, genistein, and quercetin were similar, demonstrating that overexpression of MRP1 does not confer resistance to these bioflavonoids. Our results suggest that flavonoids stimulate MRP1-mediated GSH transport by increasing the apparent affinity of the transporter for GSH but provide no evidence that a cotransport mechanism is involved.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2000

Metabolites of orally administered Perilla frutescens extract in rats and humans.

As a part of our search for bioactive substances from the leaves of Perilla frutescens BRITTON var. acuta KUDO (Perillae Herba, Labiatae), the aqueous extract was orally administered to rats and humans, and metabolites in the urine, plasma, and/or bile were analyzed by a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) equipped with a photodiode array detector. When the extract was administered to rats, 10 metabolites, trans-caffeic acid-4-O-sulfate (1), trans-p-coumaric acid-4-O-sulfate (2), trans-ferulic acid-4-O-sulfate (3), trans-m-coumaric acid-3-O-sulfate (4), trans-caffeic acid (5), m-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid (6), trans-p-coumaric acid (7), trans-m-coumaric acid (8), luteolin (9), and apigenin (10) were detected in the urine, whereas four metabolites, scutellarein-6, 7-di-O-beta-glucuronide (11), apigenin-4'-O-sulfate-7-O-beta-glucuronide (12), apigenin-7-O-beta-glucuronide (13), and diosmetin-7-O-beta-glucuronide (14) were found in the bile. Compounds 1-8 and 11-14 were also found in the plasma. When the extract was given to humans, however, two metabolites, 1-O-(2,4,5-trimethoxycinnamoyl)-beta-glucuronic acid (15) and apigenin-4'-O-beta-glucuronide (16), were found in the urine and plasma. Thus, a species difference in the metabolism of the extract constituents was observed between rats and humans. Structures 1-16 were identified based on their chemical and spectral data.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

The free radical scavenging activity of four flavonoids determined by the comet assay.

Flavonoids are reported to exhibit a wide variety of biological effects, including antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. The aim of our study was to determine the cytotoxicity of flavonoids quercetin, rutin, apigenin and luteolin and their ability to protect DNA molecules against H2O2-induced damage. Cytotoxicity of studied flavonoids was tested in murine leukemia L1210 cells by the trypan blue exclusion technique. DNA strand breaks were determined using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). Quercetin was found to possess the highest protective effect among the flavonoids studied (45%). The protective activity determined was lower for luteolin (40%). Protective effect of apigenin (600 microM/L) was only marginal (2%). However, at the higher concentration of apigenin (1200 microM/L), this flavonoid induced DNA single strand breaks. This indicates the ability of apigenin to serve as a pro-oxidant. Rutin had no protective effect on DNA single strand breaks induced by H2O2.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Studies on the flavonoids in herb from Scutellaria barbata].

OBJECTIVE: To study flavonoids in Scutellaria barbata and elucidate their structures. METHOD: Compounds were isolated and purified by normal column chromatography, paper thin layer chromatography and Sephadex chromatography. The chemical structures were elucidated by ESI mass and NMR spectra. RESULT: Five flavonoids were isolated from S. barbata and identified as apigenin (1), luteolin (2), ethyl-7-O-apigenin-glucuronate (3), apigenin-7-O-beta-glucoside (4), and apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside (5), in addition to benzyaldehyde (6). CONCLUSION: Flavonoidglycoside (3), (4) and (5) were isolated from S. barbata for the first time.

Apigenin↗
PubMed2003

Flavonoids inhibit VEGF/bFGF-induced angiogenesis in vitro by inhibiting the matrix-degrading proteases.

Flavonoids have been proposed to act as chemopreventive agents in numerous epidemiological studies and have been shown to inhibit angiogenesis and proliferation of tumor cells and endothelial cells in vitro. Angiogenesis requires tightly controlled extracellular matrix degradation mediated by extracellular proteolytic enzymes including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and serine proteases, in particular, the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)-plasmin system. In this study, we have investigated the antiangiogenic mechanism of the flavonoids, genistein, apigenin, and 3-hydroxyflavone in a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model. The stimulation of serum-starved HUVECs with vascular endothelial growth factor/basic fibroblast growth factor (VEGF/bFGF) caused marked increase in MMP-1 production and induced the pro-MMP-2 activation accompanied by the increase in MT1-MMP expression. However, pretreatment with flavonoids before VEGF/bFGF stimulation completely abolished the VEGF/bFGF-stimulated increase in MMP-1 and MT1-MMP expression and pro-MMP-2 activation. Genistein blocked VEGF/bFGF-stimulated increase in TIMP-1 expression and decrease in TIMP-2 expression. Apigenin and 3-hydroxyflavone further decreased TIMP-1 expression below basal level and completely abolished TIMP-2 expression. VEGF and bFGF stimulation also significantly induced uPA expression, most strikingly the level of 33 kDa uPA, and increased the expression of PA inhibitor (PAI)-1. Genistein, apigenin, and 3-hydroxyflavone effectively blocked the generation of 33 kDa uPA, and further decreased the activity of the 55 kDa uPA and the expression of PAI-1 below the basal level. In conclusion, these data suggest that genistein, apigenin, and 3-hydroxyflavone inhibit in vitro angiogenesis, in part via preventing VEGF/bFGF-induced MMP-1 and uPA expression and the activation of pro-MMP-2, and via modulating their inhibitors, TIMP-1 and -2, and PAI-1.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed2005

Isolation and purification of four flavonoid constituents from the flowers of Paeonia suffruticosa by high-speed counter-current chromatography.

Four flavonoids, apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside and kaempferol-7-O-glucoside have been isolated and purified for the first time from the flowers of Paeonia suffruticosa by high-speed counter-current chromatography with a two-phase solvent system composed of ethyl acetate-ethanol-acetic acid-water (4:1:0.25:5, v/v). Then, 5 mg apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, 4 mg luteolin-7-O-glucoside, 9 mg apigenin-7-O-glucoside and 2.5 mg kaempferol-7-O-glucoside could be obtained after injecting 40 mg sample and their purities were 94, 97, 97 and 96%, respectively. All these constituents were identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2004

The biflavonoid, amentoflavone degrades DNA in the presence of copper ions.

Previous reports from this laboratory have shown that flavonoids including apigenin are capable of inducing oxidative DNA cleavage in the presence of copper ions. In the present report, we have examined the ability of amentoflavone, a biflavonoid which is a dimer of apigenin, to catalyze the degradation of DNA. Amentoflavone was found to degrade calf thymus DNA in the presence of Cu(II) at a rate almost twice that of apigenin. Amentoflavone was also shown to reduce Cu(II) to Cu(I) and to generate hydroxyl radicals in the presence of copper ions. In the presence of Cu(II), the absorption spectrum of amentoflavone undergoes a shift and a quenching effect indicating that the biflavonoid is capable of binding to copper ions. Amentoflavone and apigenin were isolated from Cycas rumphii and Trifolium alexandrinum, respectively. The results are discussed in relation to the putative chemopreventive mechanism of amentoflavone.

Animals↗