Apigenin May Prevent Leukemia

SAO PAULO, BrazilA recent Brazilian study showed apigenin as a potential chemopreventive agent due to the induction of leukemia cell-cycle arrest; however, researchers cautioned dietary intake of apigenin during disease, as it potentially interferes with cancer treatment (Cell Death Dise. 2010). Researchers analyzed the molecular consequences of apigenin, a common flavonoid found in vegetables like celery and parsley, treatment in two types of leukemia, the myeloid and erythroid subtypes.

Apigenin blocked proliferation in both lineages through cell-cycle arrest in G2/M phase for myeloid HL60 and G0/G1 phase for erythroid TF1 cells. In both cell lines the JAK/STAT pathway was one of major targets of apigenin. Apigenin inhibited PI3K/PKB pathway in HL60 and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. In contrast, no apoptosis was detected in TF1 cells, but initiation of autophagy was observed. The block in cell cycle and induction of autophagy observed in this erythroleukemia cell line resulted in a reduced susceptibility toward the commonly used therapeutic agent vincristine.