Luteolin: Molecular mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and future perspectives in human diseases

Background: Luteolin is a naturally occurring flavonoid widely distributed in medicinal plants, fruits, and vegetables. It has gained significant attention due to its broad pharmacological potential, particularly its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anticancer, and cardioprotective properties. Despite extensive preclinical evidence, a consolidated understanding of its molecular mechanisms and translational therapeutic relevance across human diseases remains limited.
Objective: This review aims to systematically summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying luteolin’s biological activities and to critically evaluate its therapeutic applications across major human diseases, along with future research perspectives for clinical translation.
Methods: A comprehensive literature survey was conducted using scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Studies focusing on luteolin’s pharmacological mechanisms, molecular targets, signaling pathways, and disease-specific effects were included. Relevant in vitro, in vivo, and computational studies were analyzed to provide an integrated overview.
Results: Luteolin exerts its biological effects through modulation of multiple cellular signaling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and JAK/STAT pathways. It demonstrates significant antioxidant activity by regulating ROS levels and enhancing endogenous antioxidant defenses. In cancer, luteolin induces apoptosis, inhibits proliferation, and suppresses metastasis through regulation of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenic signaling. In neurological disorders, it exhibits neuroprotective effects by reducing neuroinflammation and modulating neurotransmitter systems. Additionally, luteolin shows promising therapeutic potential in cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and inflammatory conditions through multi-target regulation and epigenetic modulation.
Conclusion: Luteolin represents a promising multi-target natural compound with broad therapeutic potential across diverse human diseases. Its ability to modulate key molecular pathways highlights its relevance as a candidate for drug development. However, further clinical studies, improved bioavailability strategies, and standardized pharmacokinetic evaluations are essential to translate preclinical findings into clinical applications.