Health Benefits

PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS

Among possible therapeutic applications of oral luteolin are allergies, chronic inflammatory conditions (respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, etc) atherosclerosis and other vascular disorders, neoplastic disorders, diabetes and obesity. Externally luteolin can be used for skin allergic/inflammatory disorders and for skin cancer prevention. Luteolin is a promising agent for use in ophthalmology: for prevention and treatment of cataract and of vascular eye disorders.

Luteolin-containing herbal extracts have been used for a long time as traditional herbal remedies:

• Extracts from Chamomillae requtita (chamomile) and Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow), are rich in Luteolin and its 7-O-glycosides. They are well established in traditional medicine for a wide range of beneficial effects such as antiphlogistic, spasmolytic, analgesic and also moderate antihistamine properties (111).
  
  
• Extracts from Cynara scolymus, leaves of artichokes, are known for such properties as carminative (facilitating the eructation of gas from the stomach), spasmolytic and anti-emetic (reducing nausea). The dyspeptic syndrome, chronic gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases are traditional indications4. Extracts from artichoke also show hepatoprotective properties, strong antioxidative effects and reduce the cholesterol biosynthesis. This can be beneficial in artherosclerosis (112)
  
  
• Thymus vulgaris, (thyme) extracts are used for spasmolytic and cough-relieving effects on bronchial diseases (111).
  
  
• Vitex rotundifolia, an evergreen shrub common to Eastern Asia, is used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of inflammation, headache and neuralgia (113)
  
  
• Propolis, the bee glue, is also rich in Luteolin and its 7-O-glycosides. It is traditionally used in ointments and creams for the treatment of a variety of ulcers and eczemas (111).