Apigenin
Encyclopedia
Apigenin is a flavone that is the aglycone
of several glycosides. It is a yellow crystalline solid that has been used to dye wool. Apigenin may contribute to the chemopreventive action of vegetables and fruits. It was recently shown that apigenin induces a process called autophagia (a kind of cellular dormancy) that may well explain it chemopreventive properties, but at the same time induces resistance against chemotherapy. Apigenin is a potent inhibitor
of CYP2C9
, an enzyme
responsible for the metabolism of many pharmaceutical drugs in the body.
Apigenin has been shown to reverse the adverse effects of cyclosporin. Research has been conducted to study the effects of apigenin on reversal of ciclosporin-induced damage, and this was assessed by immunohistochemical estimation of expression of bcl-2
, and estimation of apoptosis in histopathological sections. Cyclosporine A enhances the expression of transforming growth factor-β in the rat kidney, which signifies accelerated apoptosis
. Therefore, transforming growth factor-β and apoptotic index may be used to assess apigenin and its effect on cyclosporine A-induced renal damage.
Apigenin acts as a monoamine transporter
activator, one of the few chemicals demonstrated to possess this property. Apigenin is a ligand
for central benzodiazepine receptors that competitively inhibited the binding of flunitrazepam
with a Ki of 4μM, exerting anxiolytic
and slight sedative
effects.
s, formed by the derivatization of apigenin with sugars, include:
Aglycone
An aglycone is the non-sugar compound remaining after replacement of the glycosyl group from a glycoside by a hydrogen atom. The spelling aglycon is sometimes encountered .Classes of phytochemicals found in the aglycone and glycosides forms :...
of several glycosides. It is a yellow crystalline solid that has been used to dye wool. Apigenin may contribute to the chemopreventive action of vegetables and fruits. It was recently shown that apigenin induces a process called autophagia (a kind of cellular dormancy) that may well explain it chemopreventive properties, but at the same time induces resistance against chemotherapy. Apigenin is a potent inhibitor
Enzyme inhibitor
An enzyme inhibitor is a molecule that binds to enzymes and decreases their activity. Since blocking an enzyme's activity can kill a pathogen or correct a metabolic imbalance, many drugs are enzyme inhibitors. They are also used as herbicides and pesticides...
of CYP2C9
CYP2C9
Cytochrome P450 2C9 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CYP2C9 gene.- Function :CYP2C9 is an important cytochrome P450 enzyme with a major role in the oxidation of both xenobiotic and endogenous compounds. CYP2C9 makes up about 18% of the cytochrome P450 protein in liver microsomes...
, an enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
responsible for the metabolism of many pharmaceutical drugs in the body.
Apigenin has been shown to reverse the adverse effects of cyclosporin. Research has been conducted to study the effects of apigenin on reversal of ciclosporin-induced damage, and this was assessed by immunohistochemical estimation of expression of bcl-2
Bcl-2
Bcl-2 is the founding member of the Bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulator proteins encoded by the BCL2 gene. Bcl-2 derives its name from B-cell lymphoma 2, as it is the second member of a range of proteins initially described in chromosomal translocations involving chromosomes 14 and 18 in...
, and estimation of apoptosis in histopathological sections. Cyclosporine A enhances the expression of transforming growth factor-β in the rat kidney, which signifies accelerated apoptosis
Apoptosis
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...
. Therefore, transforming growth factor-β and apoptotic index may be used to assess apigenin and its effect on cyclosporine A-induced renal damage.
Apigenin acts as a monoamine transporter
Monoamine transporter
Monoamine transporters are protein structures that function as integral plasma membrane transporters to regulate concentrations of extracellular monoamine neurotransmitters. Three major classes of MATs are responsible for the reuptake of their associated amine neurotransmitters...
activator, one of the few chemicals demonstrated to possess this property. Apigenin is a ligand
Ligand (biochemistry)
In biochemistry and pharmacology, a ligand is a substance that forms a complex with a biomolecule to serve a biological purpose. In a narrower sense, it is a signal triggering molecule, binding to a site on a target protein.The binding occurs by intermolecular forces, such as ionic bonds, hydrogen...
for central benzodiazepine receptors that competitively inhibited the binding of flunitrazepam
Flunitrazepam
Flunitrazepam is marketed as a potent hypnotic, sedative, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, amnestic, and skeletal muscle relaxant drug most commonly known as Rohypnol...
with a Ki of 4μM, exerting anxiolytic
Anxiolytic
An anxiolytic is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety, and its related psychological and physical symptoms...
and slight sedative
Sedative
A sedative or tranquilizer is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement....
effects.
Glycosides
GlycosideGlycoside
In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to a non-carbohydrate moiety, usually a small organic molecule. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides. These can be activated by enzyme...
s, formed by the derivatization of apigenin with sugars, include:
- ApiinApiinApiin is a chemical compound isolated from parsley and celery. The aglycone of apiin is apigenin....
, isolated from parsley and celery - ApigetrinApigetrinApigetrin is a chemical compound that can be found in dandelion coffee.-External links:*...
(apigenin-7-glucoside), found in dandelion coffee - VitexinVitexinVitexin is an apigenin flavone glucoside, a chemical coupound found in the passion flower, Vitex agnus-castus and in the Phyllostachys nigra bamboo leaves...
(apigenin-8-C-glucoside) - Isovitexin (apigenin-6-C-glucoside or homovitexin, saponaretin)
- RhoifolinRhoifolinRhoifolin is a chemical compound. It is a flavone, a type of flavonoid isolated from Boehmeria nivea, China grass or ramie , from Citrus limon, Canton lemon , from Citrus x aurantium, the bigarade or bitter orange , from Citrus x paradisi, the grapefruit , from Ononis campestris, the cammock and...
(Apigenin 7-O-neohesperidoside) - Schaftoside