Luteolin: exploring its therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms in pulmonary diseases

Luteolin is a flavonoid widely found in plants, including vegetables, botanical drugs, and fruits. Owing to its diverse pharmacological activities, such as anticancer, oxidative stress protection, anti-inflammatory, and neuron-preserving effects, luteolin has attracted attention in research and medi...

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Main Authors: Jialian Lv, Xinyue Song, Zixin Luo, Duoqin Huang, Li Xiao, Kang Zou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1535555/full
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author Jialian Lv
Xinyue Song
Zixin Luo
Duoqin Huang
Li Xiao
Kang Zou
author_facet Jialian Lv
Xinyue Song
Zixin Luo
Duoqin Huang
Li Xiao
Kang Zou
author_sort Jialian Lv
collection DOAJ
description Luteolin is a flavonoid widely found in plants, including vegetables, botanical drugs, and fruits. Owing to its diverse pharmacological activities, such as anticancer, oxidative stress protection, anti-inflammatory, and neuron-preserving effects, luteolin has attracted attention in research and medicine. Luteolin exhibits therapeutic effects on various pulmonary disease models through multiple molecular mechanisms; these include inhibition of activation of the PI3K/Akt-mediated Nuclear Factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as the promotion of regulatory T cell (Treg) function and enhancement of alveolar epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) activity (alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress responses). Luteolin has therapeutic effects on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), pulmonary fibrosis, allergic asthma, and lung cancer. Luteolin, a naturally occurring polyphenol, is poorly water-soluble. The oral route may be ineffective because the gut poorly absorbs this type of flavonoid. Therefore, although luteolin exhibits significant biological activity, its clinical application is limited by challenges associated with its poor water solubility and low bioavailability, which are critical factors for its efficacy and pharmacological application. These challenges can be addressed by modifying the chemical structure and enhancing pharmaceutical formulations. We summarized the research advancements in improving the solubility and bioavailability of luteolin, as well as the effects of luteolin on various pulmonary diseases and their related mechanisms, with the aim of providing new ideas for researchers.
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issn 1663-9812
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spelling doaj-art-12356c43607948b4910211dbd4b164542025-02-12T07:26:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-02-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15355551535555Luteolin: exploring its therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms in pulmonary diseasesJialian Lv0Xinyue Song1Zixin Luo2Duoqin Huang3Li Xiao4Kang Zou5The First Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, ChinaThe First Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, ChinaThe First Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, ChinaThe First Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, ChinaLuteolin is a flavonoid widely found in plants, including vegetables, botanical drugs, and fruits. Owing to its diverse pharmacological activities, such as anticancer, oxidative stress protection, anti-inflammatory, and neuron-preserving effects, luteolin has attracted attention in research and medicine. Luteolin exhibits therapeutic effects on various pulmonary disease models through multiple molecular mechanisms; these include inhibition of activation of the PI3K/Akt-mediated Nuclear Factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as the promotion of regulatory T cell (Treg) function and enhancement of alveolar epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) activity (alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress responses). Luteolin has therapeutic effects on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), pulmonary fibrosis, allergic asthma, and lung cancer. Luteolin, a naturally occurring polyphenol, is poorly water-soluble. The oral route may be ineffective because the gut poorly absorbs this type of flavonoid. Therefore, although luteolin exhibits significant biological activity, its clinical application is limited by challenges associated with its poor water solubility and low bioavailability, which are critical factors for its efficacy and pharmacological application. These challenges can be addressed by modifying the chemical structure and enhancing pharmaceutical formulations. We summarized the research advancements in improving the solubility and bioavailability of luteolin, as well as the effects of luteolin on various pulmonary diseases and their related mechanisms, with the aim of providing new ideas for researchers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1535555/fullluteolinpulmonary diseasesmolecular mechanismsbioavailabilitypharmacokineticspharmacological activities
spellingShingle Jialian Lv
Xinyue Song
Zixin Luo
Duoqin Huang
Li Xiao
Kang Zou
Luteolin: exploring its therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms in pulmonary diseases
Frontiers in Pharmacology
luteolin
pulmonary diseases
molecular mechanisms
bioavailability
pharmacokinetics
pharmacological activities
title Luteolin: exploring its therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms in pulmonary diseases
title_full Luteolin: exploring its therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms in pulmonary diseases
title_fullStr Luteolin: exploring its therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms in pulmonary diseases
title_full_unstemmed Luteolin: exploring its therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms in pulmonary diseases
title_short Luteolin: exploring its therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms in pulmonary diseases
title_sort luteolin exploring its therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms in pulmonary diseases
topic luteolin
pulmonary diseases
molecular mechanisms
bioavailability
pharmacokinetics
pharmacological activities
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1535555/full
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AT xinyuesong luteolinexploringitstherapeuticpotentialandmolecularmechanismsinpulmonarydiseases
AT zixinluo luteolinexploringitstherapeuticpotentialandmolecularmechanismsinpulmonarydiseases
AT duoqinhuang luteolinexploringitstherapeuticpotentialandmolecularmechanismsinpulmonarydiseases
AT lixiao luteolinexploringitstherapeuticpotentialandmolecularmechanismsinpulmonarydiseases
AT kangzou luteolinexploringitstherapeuticpotentialandmolecularmechanismsinpulmonarydiseases