Beneficial Effects

• Luteolin is an active inhibitor of different hyaluronidases, which modify hyaluronic acid (79). Hyaluronic acid, a heteropolysaccharide, is one the polymers that accounts for the toughness and flexibility of cartilage and tendon.
  
• Luteolin exhibits spasmolytic effects: Luteolin significantly antagonized acetylcholine- and histamine-induced contraction of smooth muscle in the guinea pig model of modified air overflow (80,81), and showed strong anti-histamine properties (82,83).
• Luteolin displays anti-leishmanial activity.(84)
• Luteolin displays strong antinociceptive (against pain originating from peripheral nerves) action in mice .(85) This is in accordance with the fact that Luteolin is an active principle of Brazilian plant Wedelia paludosa, traditionally used against the variety of disorders, including painful conditions.
  

Respiratory tract disturbances

• Due to its anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and smooth muscle-relaxing properties, luteolin has potential in the prevention and treatment of many respiratory disorders, including asthmatic conditions, chronic bronchitis, etc. (94,96)

  Ophtalmology

• Prevention of the neovascular disease of the eye: Luteolin strongly inhibits corneal angiogenesis in vivo.
  

Beneficial effects of luteolin glycosides

• Luteolin -7-glucoside (isolated along with luteolin from Genista rumelica ) displayed pronounced capillary strengthening. (56)
  
• Luteolin-7- O-glucoside and luteolin-4'-O-glucoside (from Ligustrum vulgare and Phillyrea latifolia, Oleaceae) presented "remarkable" complement inhibiting effect on the classical pathway. (88)
  
• Luteolin-7-glucoside reportedly protects from ischemic tissue injury (possibly due to its antioxidative and phosphodiesterase-inhibiting properties). (89)
  
• Luteolin 4'-O-glucopyranoside from Kummerowia striata Thunb. (Leguminosae) was identified as the IL-5 inhibitor. (90) Interleukin (IL)-5 is a chemotactic factor of eosinophils; it promotes the growth and survival of eosinophils, which play an important role in the eosinophilia-associated allergic inflammation.
  
• Luteolin 7-O-rutinoside (scolymoside) (isolated from Artemisia montana) has strong radical scavenging properties. Its antioxidant activity is comparable to that of L-ascorbic acid. (54)
  
• Some luteolin glycosides are reported to have antidiabetic activities. Particularly, luteolin-5-O-b-rutinoside, isolated from medicinal plant Salvia lavandulifolia and given orally to diabetic rats (2 mg/kg for 20 days) reduced glycemia and increased pancreatic insulin and pancreatic DNA contents. The authors relate the effect to the antioxidative action of the flavonoid, e.g., prevention of oxidative stress that causes the destruction of b-cells. (91)
  
• Protective effect of luteolin and its glycosides against tissue injury can be realized through various mechanisms: decrease of capillary fragility, scavenging active oxygen species, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, inhibition of release of leukotrienes and TNF-alpha, suppression of adhesion of leukocytes to endothelium, and so on. (92)

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