| dc.description.abstract | Luteolin is a naturally occurring secondary metabolite belonging to the class of flavones. As many other natural flavonoids, it is
often found in combination with glycosides in many fruits, vegetables, and plants, contributing to their biological and
pharmacological value. Many preclinical studies report that luteolin present excellent antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial,
neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects, and as a consequence, various clinical trials have
been designed to investigate the therapeutic potential of luteolin in humans. However, luteolin has a very limited
bioavailability, which consequently affects its biological properties and efficacy. Several drug delivery strategies have been
developed to raise its bioavailability, with nanoformulations and lipid carriers, such as liposomes, being the most intensively
explored. Pharmacological potential of luteolin in various disorders has also been underlined, but to some of them, the exact
mechanism is still poorly understood. Given the great potential of this natural antioxidant in health, this review is aimed at
providing an extensive overview on the in vivo pharmacological action of luteolin and at stressing the main features related to
its bioavailability, absorption, and metabolism, while essential steps determine its absolute health benefits and safety profiles. In
addition, despite the scarcity of studies on luteolin bioavailability, the different drug delivery formulations developed to
increase its bioavailability are also listed here. | tr |
