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PubMed2006

Bioavailability of apigenin from apiin-rich parsley in humans.

AIM: Absorption and excretion of apigenin after the ingestion of apiin-rich food, i.e. parsley, was tested. METHODS: Eleven healthy subjects (5 women, 6 men) in the age range of 23-41 years and with an average body mass index of 23.9 +/- 4.1 kg/m2 took part in this study. After an apigenin- and luteolin-free diet, a single oral bolus of 2 g blanched parsley (corresponding to 65.8 +/- 15.5 micromol apigenin) per kilogram body weight was consumed. Blood samples were taken at 0, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 28 h after parsley consumption and 24-hour urine samples were collected. Apigenin was analyzed in plasma, urine and red blood cells by means of HPLC-ECD. RESULTS: On average, a maximum apigenin plasma concentration of 127 +/- 81 nmol/l was reached after 7.2 +/- 1.3 h with a high range of variation between subjects. For all participants, plasma apigenin concentration rose after bolus ingestion and fell within 28 h under the detection limit (2.3 nmol/l). The average apigenin content in 24-hour urine was 144 +/- 110 nmol/24 h corresponding to 0.22 +/- 0.16% of the ingested dose. The flavone could be detected in red blood cells without showing dose-response characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: A small portion of apigenin provided by food reaches the human circulation and, therefore, may reveal biological effects.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Signal pathways involved in apigenin inhibition of growth and induction of apoptosis of human anaplastic thyroid cancer cells (ARO).

Recently we demonstrated that several flavonoids can inhibit the proliferation of certain human thyroid cancer cell lines. Among the flavonoids tested, apigenin and luteolin are the most effective inhibitors of these tumor cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the signal transduction mechanism associated with the growth inhibitory effect of apigenin, using a human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell line, ARO (UCLA RO-81-A-1). Using Western blot method, it was shown that the inhibitory effect of apigenin on ARO cell proliferation is associated with an inhibition of both EGFR tyrosine autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of its downstream effector mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase. Protein levels of these signaling molecules were not affected. The inhibitor of phosphorylation by apigenin occurred within 30 min and continued for 4 h. A dose-dependent inhibition was demonstrable ranging from 12.5 microM to 50 microM. The level of phosphorylated c-Myc, a nuclear substrate for MAPK, was depressed from 16-48 h after apigenin treatment, finally leading to a programmed cell death involving DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, treatment with apigenin resulted in the inhibition of both anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent thyroid cancer cell growth. In summary, apigenin is a promising inhibitor of signal transduction pathways that regulate the growth (anchorage-dependent and independent) and survival of human anaplastic thyroid cancer cells. Apigenin may provide a new approach for the treatment of human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma for which no effective therapy is presently available.

Apigenin↗
PubMed1991

Vasodilatory action mechanisms of apigenin isolated from Apium graveolens in rat thoracic aorta.

The effect of apigenin, isolated from Apium graveolens, on the contraction of rat thoracic aorta was studied. Apigenin inhibited the contraction of aortic rings caused by cumulative concentrations of calcium (0.03-3 mM) in high potassium (60 mM) medium, with an IC50 of about 48 microM. After pretreatment it also inhibited norepinephrine (NE, 3 microM)-induced phasic and tonic contraction in a concentration (35-140 microM)-dependent manner with an IC50 of 63 microM. At the plateau of NE-induced tonic contraction, addition of apigenin caused relaxation. This relaxing effect of apigenin was not antagonized by indomethacin (20 microM) or methylene blue (50 microM), and still existed in endothelial denuded rat aorta or in the presence of nifedipine (2-100 microM). Neither cAMP nor cGMP levels were changed by apigenin. Both the formation of inositol monophosphate caused by NE and the phasic contraction induced by caffeine in the Ca(2+)-free solution were unaffected by apigenin. 45Ca2+ influx caused by either NE or K+ was inhibited by apigenin concentration-dependently. It is concluded that apigenin relaxes rat thoracic aorta mainly by suppressing the Ca2+ influx through both voltage- and receptor-operated calcium channels.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Inhibitions of protein kinase C and proto-oncogene expressions in NIH 3T3 cells by apigenin.

Apigenin, a low-toxic and non-mutagenic plant flavonoid, suppresses 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-mediated tumour promotion of mouse skin. TPA has the ability to activate protein kinase C (PKC) and induce proto-oncogene expression. Our study shows that apigenin inhibits PKC by competing with ATP, and exhibits an IC50 value of 10 +/- 0.5 microM. Apigenin also reduces the level of TPA-stimulated phosphorylation of cellular proteins. Of the protein tyrosine kinases tested, the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor was most strongly affected by apigenin (IC50 20 microM), and pp60v-src most weakly affected (IC50 > 200 microM). Treatment of NIH 3T3 cells with 100 ng/ml TPA and 10, 50 and 100 microM apigenin resulted in 50, 80 and 100% suppression of TPA-induced C-JUN expression, respectively. Treatment of TPA with 10 microM apigenin inhibited TPA-induced C-FOS expression. TPA-stimulated cell growth was suppressed by 25 microM apigenin. Our results provide some evidence for understanding apigenin's inhibitory effects of TPA-mediated tumour promotion.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2004

Molecular mechanisms for apigenin-induced cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis of hormone refractory human prostate carcinoma DU145 cells.

Development of effective agents for treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer has become a national medical priority. We have reported recently that apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone), found in many common fruits and vegetables, has shown remarkable effects in inhibiting cell growth and inducing apoptosis in many human prostate carcinoma cells. Here we demonstrate the molecular mechanism of inhibitory action of apigenin on androgen-refractory human prostate carcinoma DU145 cells that have mutations in the tumor suppressor gene p53 and pRb. Treatment of cells with apigenin resulted in a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of growth, colony formation, and G1 phase arrest of the cell cycle. This effect was associated with a marked decrease in the protein expression of cyclin D1, D2, and E and their activating partner, cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk)2, 4, and 6, with concomitant upregulation of WAF1/p21, KIP1/p27, INK4a/p16, and INK4c/p18. The induction of WAF1/p21 and its growth inhibitory effects by apigenin appears to be independent of p53 and pRb status of these cells. Apigenin treatment also resulted in alteration in Bax/Bcl2 ratio in favor of apoptosis, which was associated with the release of cytochrome c and induction of apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1). This effect was found to result in a significant increase in cleaved fragments of caspase-9, -3, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Further, apigenin treatment resulted in downmodulation of the constitutive expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)/p65 and NF-kappaB/p50 in the nuclear fraction that correlated with an increase in the expression of IkappaB-alpha (IkappaBalpha) in the cytosol. Taken together, we concluded that molecular mechanisms during apigenin-mediated growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in DU145 cells was due to (1) modulation in cell-cycle machinery, (2) disruption of mitochondrial function, and (3) NF-kappaB inhibition.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2007

Modulation of UVB-induced and basal cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression by apigenin in mouse keratinocytes: role of USF transcription factors.

Apigenin is a bioflavonoid with chemopreventive activity against UV- or chemically-induced mouse skin tumors. To further explore the mechanism of apigenin's chemopreventive activity, we determined whether apigenin inhibited UVB-mediated induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in mouse and human keratinocytes. Apigenin suppressed the UVB-induced increase in COX-2 protein and mRNA in mouse and human keratinocyte cell lines. UVB radiation of keratinocytes transfected with a mouse COX-2 promoter/luciferase reporter plasmid resulted in a threefold increase in transcription from the promoter, and apigenin inhibited the UV-induced promoter activity at doses of 5-50 microM. Transient transfections with COX-2 promoter deletion constructs and COX-2 promoter constructs containing mutations in specific enhancer elements indicated that the effects of UVB required intact Ebox and ATF/CRE response elements. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with supershifting antibodies were used to identify USF-1, USF-2, and CREB as proteins binding to the ATF/CRE-Ebox responsive element of the COX-2 promoter. Keratinocytes co-transfected with the COX-2 luciferase reporter and a USF-2 expression vector, alone or in combination with a USF-1 expression vector, exhibited enhanced promoter activity in both UVB-irradiated and nonirradiated cultures. However, COX-2 promoter activity was inhibited in keratinocytes co-transfected with USF-1 alone. Finally, we present data showing that the suppressive effect of apigenin on COX-2 expression could be reversed by co-expression of USF-1 and USF-2. These results suggest that one pathway by which apigenin inhibits COX-2 expression is through modulation of USF transcriptional activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Selective growth-inhibitory, cell-cycle deregulatory and apoptotic response of apigenin in normal versus human prostate carcinoma cells.

Agents that are capable of inducing selective apoptosis of cancer cells are receiving considerable attention in developing novel cancer-preventive approaches. In the present study, employing normal human prostate epithelial cells (NHPE), virally transformed normal human prostate epithelial cells (PZ-HPV-7), and human prostate adenocarcinoma (CA-HPV-10) cells, we evaluated the growth-inhibitory effects of apigenin, a flavonoid abundantly present in fruits and vegetables. Apigenin treatment to NHPE and PZ-HPV-7 resulted in almost similar growth inhibitory responses of low magnitude. In sharp contrast, apigenin treatment resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability of CA-HPV-10 cells. Similar selective growth inhibitory effects were also observed for human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells compared to normal human epidermal keratinocytes. Apigenin treatment resulted in significant apoptosis of CA-HPV-10 cells as evident from (i) DNA ladder assay, (ii) fluorescence microscopy, and (iii) TUNEL assay, whereas the NHPE and PZ-HPV-7 cells did not undergo apoptosis but showed exclusive necrotic staining only at a high dose of 40 microM. Apigenin (1-10 microM) also resulted in a dose-dependent G2-M phase cell cycle arrest of CA-HPV-10 cells but not of PZ-HPV-7 cells. The growth-inhibitory and apoptotic potential of apigenin was also observed in a variety of prostate carcinoma cells representing different stage and androgen responsiveness. Apigenin may be developed as a promising chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agent against prostate cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2006

Tissue distribution in mice and metabolism in murine and human liver of apigenin and tricin, flavones with putative cancer chemopreventive properties.

PURPOSE: The flavones apigenin and tricin, which occur in leafy vegetables and rice bran, respectively, possess cancer chemopreventive properties in preclinical rodent models. Their pharmacology is only poorly understood. We compared their tissue levels in mice in vivo and their metabolism in liver fractions in vitro. METHODS: Mice received apigenin or tricin (0.2%) with their diet for 5-7 days, and flavone levels were compared in the plasma, liver and gastrointestinal mucosa using HPLC-UV. Flavone metabolism was investigated in murine and human liver microsomes or cytosol in vitro co-incubated with uridine 5'-diphosphoglucuronic acid or 3'-phosphoadenosine-5' phosphosulfate. Flavone metabolites were characterized by on-line HPLC-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: After dietary administration of flavones for 7 days, levels of tricin in plasma, liver and mucosa exceeded those of apigenin by 350, 33 and 100%, respectively. Apigenin was more rapidly glucuronidated than tricin in liver microsomes, whilst tricin underwent swifter sulfonation than apigenin in liver cytosol. For either flavone the rate of glucuronidation was much faster than that of sulfonation. Flavone monoglucuronides and monosulfates were identified as metabolites in microsomal and cytosolic incubations, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: When consumed with the diet in mice tricin seems to be more available than apigenin in blood and tissues. Differences in their glucuronidation may account for their differential availability. Thus tricin may have a pharmacokinetic advantage over apigenin. This type of information may help decide which flavonoids to select for clinical development.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Anti-proliferative effect of apigenin and its apoptotic induction in human Hep G2 cells.

Apigenin, a common dietary flavonoid abundantly present in fruits and vegetables, is believed to possess preventive and therapeutic potential against cancers. In this study, the anti-hepatoma property of apigenin was evaluated on three different human hapatoma cells, namely Hep G2, Hep 3B, and PLC/PRF/5 cells. Results showed that apigenin exhibited a significant growth inhibition against the three selected hepatoma cell lines but not the normal murine liver BNL CL.2 cells. Interestingly, it was shown to possess a similar potency as a commercial anti-hepatoma agent 5-flurouracil (5-FU: positive control) against Hep G2 cells, with IC50 value of 8.02+/-1.30 microg/ml. Therefore, we conducted our study further to investigate the cellular mechanism of apigenin effect on Hep G2 cell death. Using DNA ladder and flow cytometric analysis, apigenin was found to induce apoptosis in Hep G2 cells. It also increased the accumulation of p53 and further enhanced the level of p21/WAF1. Together, it was shown that the apoptosis induced by apigenin in Hep G2 cells was possibly mediated through the p53-dependent pathway and the induction of p21 expression, which was probably associated with the cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. The present study concludes that the anti-hepatoma activity of apigenin is as effective as 5-FU and its apoptotic mechanism might be mediated through the p53-dependent pathway and the induction of p21 expression.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Apigenin modulates GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission in cultured cortical neurons.

Using the patch-clamp technique, we studied the modulation of ionotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate neurotransmission by apigenin, a flavonoid with sedative and antidepressant activity. Apigenin reversibly reduced GABA-evoked currents mediated by alpha1beta2gamma2 receptors expressed in HEK293 cells. Amplitude and frequency of spontaneous postsynaptic inhibitory currents (sIPSCs) mediated by GABA(A) receptors were also decreased by apigenin in cultured cortical neurons. The flavonoid was almost inactive on alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) mediated currents while it reduced N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor mediated responses with a half maximal inhibiting concentration (IC50) of 10 microM. The flavonoid inhibited also peak amplitude and frequency of spontaneous postsynaptic excitatory currents (sEPSCs). Finally, apigenin is neuroprotective against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in cerebellar and cortical neurons in culture. Our data reveal the antagonistic effect of apigenin on GABA and NMDA channels. While the inhibition on GABA receptor cannot explain the effects of the drug in vivo our data on NMDA channels reveal a new target of apigenin. A reduction of the network excitability could thus account for the sedative effects. Furthermore, our data suggest a potential neuroprotective activity of apigenin.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Inhibition of interleukin-4 production in activated T cells via down-regulation of NF-AT DNA binding activity by apigenin, a flavonoid present in dietary plants.

Apigenin, a flavonoid present in many dietary plants, exhibits anti-allergic activity and inhibits IL-4 production by basophils and mast cells. However, the mechanism by which apigenin suppresses IL-4 production especially in T cells remains unclear. In this study, the effect of apigenin and its underlying mechanism on IL-4 production were investigated in activated T cells. Apigenin significantly inhibited IL-4 production in both EL4 T thymoma cells and primary lymph node cells. Apigenin also inhibited IL-4 gene promoter activity in EL4 cells transiently transfected with IL-4 gene promoter constructs, but this inhibitory effect was impaired in EL4 cells transfected with an IL-4 promoter construct deleted of NF-AT binding sites. In addition, apigenin inhibited NF-AT DNA binding activities, indicating that apigenin may inhibit IL-4 production in T cells via down-regulation of NF-AT DNA binding activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Determination and assay validation of luteolin and apigenin in human urine after oral administration of tablet of Chrysanthemum morifolium extract by HPLC.

A simple, selective, precise, and accurate RP-HPLC assay for simultaneous analysis of luteolin and apigenin in human urine was developed and validated. Prior to HPLC analysis, urine samples were incubated with beta-glucuronidase/sulfatase. Separation and quantification were achieved on an Agilent C18 column under isocratic conditions using a mobile phase (methanol:0.2% phosphoric acid aqueous solution 55:45, v/v) maintained at 1.0 ml/min at 30 degrees C. The standard curves were linear over the range of 0.0975-7.800 and 0.1744-13.95 microg/ml for luteolin and apigenin, respectively (r > 0.999). The assay recoveries for luteolin and apigenin were above 85.7%. The intra-day and inter-day precision (R.S.D.) for luteolin were below 2.2 and 4.0%, respectively, and for apigenin were less than 2.8 and 5.4%, respectively. Stability studies showed three concentration of luteolin and apigenin in urine quality control samples were stable undergoing three freeze-thaw cycles, storage at room temperature for 4 h, and at -20 degrees C for 3 days. The limit of quantitation was 39.20 ng/ml (n = 5) for luteolin and 31.45 ng/ml (n = 5) for apigenin in human urine. The method developed was employed successfully to determine luteolin and apigenin in urine samples obtained from eight healthy volunteers following oral administration of tablet of Chrysanthemum morifolium extract (CME).

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2006

Overexpression of the Saussurea medusa chalcone isomerase gene in S. involucrata hairy root cultures enhances their biosynthesis of apigenin.

Saussurea involucrata is a medicinal plant well known for its flavonoids, including apigenin, which has been shown to significantly inhibit tumorigenesis. Since naturally occurring apigenin is in very low abundance, we took a transgenic approach to increase apigenin production by engineering the flavonoid pathway. A construct was made to contain the complete cDNA sequence of the Saussurea medusa chalcone isomerase (CHI) gene under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. Using an Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation system, the chi overexpression cassette was incorporated into the genome of S. involucrata, and transgenic hairy root lines were established. CHI converts naringenin chalcone into naringenin that is the precursor of apigenin. We observed that transgenic hairy root lines grew faster and produced higher levels of apigenin and total flavonoids than wild-type hairy roots did. Over a culture period of 5 weeks, the best-performing line (C46) accumulated 32.1 mgL(-1) apigenin and 647.8 mgL(-1) total flavonoids, or 12 and 4 times, respectively, higher than wild-type hairy roots did. The enhanced productivity corresponded to elevated CHI activity, confirming the key role that CHI played for total flavonoids and apigenin synthesis and the efficiency of the current metabolic engineering strategy.

Apigenin↗
PubMed2004

Unbalanced activation of ERK1/2 and MEK1/2 in apigenin-induced HeLa cell death.

Apigenin, a dietary bioflavonoid with anticarcinogenic properties, was highly cytotoxic for HeLa cells (incubated with 0.5% FBS). This effect was accompanied with a marked increase in ERK1/2 but not MEK1/2 phosphorylation. The cytotoxic effects of apigenin were attenuated by the stimulation of these cells with 10% FBS, which provoked an increase in the phosphorylation levels of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2. The steps in the ERK1/2 pathway relevant to the cytotoxic effects of apigenin, as well as the contribution of other signaling pathways, were investigated. The activation of the pathway by transfection with the constitutively active Ras mutant (RasV12) conferred protection to serum-starved HeLa cells against apigenin, whereas the constitutively active MEK(E) mutant did not. MEK inhibitors (PD098059 or U0126) blocked ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by apigenin and conferred partial protection against this flavonoid. The effects of apigenin did not involve p38-MAPK or JNK1/2, and were not simply due to inhibition of PI3kinase or protein kinase CK2. These data suggest that the deregulation of the ERK1/2 pathway, due to the potentiation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation without increasing MEK1/2 phosphorylation, is involved in apigenin-induced HeLa cell death.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2001

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) flavonoids. 1. Apigenin and luteolin glycosides from aerial parts.

Nine flavones and adenosine have been identified in aerial parts of alfalfa, and their structures were established by spectral (FABMS and NMR) techniques. Five of the identified compounds, including apigenin 7-O-[beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl]-4'-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside, apigenin 7-O-[2-O-feruloyl-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl]-4'-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside, apigenin 7-O-[2-O-feruloyl-[beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside], apigenin 7-O-[2-O-p-coumaroyl-[beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside], and luteolin 7-O-[2-O-feruloyl-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl]-4'-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside, have not been reported before in the plant kingdom. Additionally, five known compounds, including apigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside, apigenin 4'-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside, apigenin 7-O-[beta-D- glucuronopyranosyl(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside], luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside, and adenosine, were identified.

Adenosine↗
PubMed2006

Dietary apigenin suppresses IgE and inflammatory cytokines production in C57BL/6N mice.

Flavonoids ubiquitously exist in plants, vegetables, fruits, and teas. We evaluated the effect of dietary apigenin, one of the well-known flavonoids, on the immune system in C57BL/6N mice. Mice were fed experimental diets containing apigenin for 2 weeks. After the experimental period, there was no significant difference in body and organ weights between the control and the apigenin group. The total immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels in mice fed apigenin were significantly suppressed, whereas levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA were not affected. We also examined the effect of the apigenin diet on cytokine expression in mice sera using a cytokine array. The production of regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I (sTNFRI) in mice sera was down-regulated by the apigenin diet. These results suggest that a diet containing apigenin can reduce serum IgE and inflammatory cytokines such as RANTES and sTNFRI in mice.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Apigenin inhibition of involucrin gene expression is associated with a specific reduction in phosphorylation of protein kinase Cdelta Tyr311.

Apigenin is a plant-derived flavanoid that has significant promise as a skin cancer chemopreventive agent. In the present study, we examine the mechanism whereby apigenin regulates normal human keratinocyte differentiation. Expression of involucrin (hINV), a marker of keratinocyte differentiation, is increased by differentiating agents via a protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta), Ras, MEKK1, MEK3 cascade that increases AP1 factor level and AP1 factor binding to DNA elements in the hINV promoter. We show that apigenin inhibits this response. Apigenin suppresses the 12-O-tetradeconylphorbol-13-acetate-dependent increase in AP1 factor expression and binding to the hINV promoter and the increase in hINV promoter activity. Apigenin also inhibits the increase in promoter activity observed following overexpression of PKCdelta, constitutively active Ras, or MEKK1. The suppression of PKCdelta activity is associated with reduced phosphorylation of PKCdelta-Y311. The physiological importance of this phosphorylation event was confirmed by showing that the PKCdelta phosphorylation-defective mutant, PKCdelta-Y311F, is less able to increase hINV promoter activity. Activation of hINV promoter activity by the green tea polyphenol, (-)-epigellocathecin-3-gallate, is also inhibited by apigenin, suggesting that the two chemopreventive agents can produce opposing actions in keratinocytes. Additional studies show that the apigenin-dependent suppression of differentiation is associated with reduced cell proliferation but that there is no evidence of apoptosis.

Apigenin↗
PubMed2003

The chemopreventive bioflavonoid apigenin modulates signal transduction pathways in keratinocyte and colon carcinoma cell lines.

Apigenin is a nonmutagenic chemopreventive agent found in fruits and green vegetables. In this study, we used two different epithelial cell lines (308 mouse keratinocytes and HCT116 colon carcinoma cells) to determine the effect of apigenin on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. Apigenin induced a dose-dependent phosphorylation of both extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and p38 kinase but had little effect on the phosphorylation of c-jun amino terminal kinase (JNK). We used immunoprecipitation-coupled kinase assays to show that apigenin increased the kinase activity of ERK and p38 but not JNK. Consistent with these results, we found that apigenin induced a 7.4-fold induction in the phosphorylation of Elk, the downstream phosphorylation target of ERK kinase. Similarly, apigenin induced a 3.2-fold induction in the phosphorylation of activating transcription factor-2, the downstream phosphorylation target of p38 kinase. Little change was observed in the phosphorylation of c-jun, the phosphorylation target of JNK. These data suggest that part of the chemopreventive activity of apigenin may be mediated by its ability to modulate the MAPK cascade.

Animals↗