Flavones
There are many types of flavonoids, all with very similar and confusing names such as flavanones, flavonols, and flavones. Flavones are crystalline phenolic compounds that provide yellow and white pigments to some plants. There are over 600 known types of flavones, which are formed by the oxidation of flavanones. Plants high in flavones are not necessarily yellow or white. If they have a high chlorophyll content they will be green. Some herbs and vegetables high in flavones are parsley, thyme, celery and celery hearts, oregano and green chile peppers.
Apigenin is a flavone found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables such as celery, parsley, artichokes, basil, chamomile, apples, cherries and grapes. This compound is the focus of cancer research, as it appears to improve the bodies response to chemotherapy by transporting a tumour suppressing protein into the cells. You can read about it in a study published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics in April, 2006. Apigenin seems to inhibit cancer cell growth in several different types of cancer.
Luteolin, another flavone, is found in celery, peppers, rosemary,lemons, parsley, olive oil, peppermint, sage, thyme and many other plants. This flavone has anti-inflammatory properties, including for inflammation in the brain, according to a study at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It also improves insulin sensitivity and can help with keeping normal glucose levels and weight management. Luteolin can help the body withstand radiation and chemotherapy by protecting DNA from radiation-induced free radicals.
A study published in Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences showed that flavones have anti-inflammatory activity when given to mice with acute edema.
Sinensetin and heptamethoxy flavone are found in citrus fruits and are found to have anti-adhesive action on platelets, or to keep them from sticking together. Other flavones include glabridin, found in the licorice plant, maysin found in maize, and isovitexin and isoorientin found in cereal crops.
The information on this page is not meant to be used in treatment of medical conditions. Please seek the advice of a physician about any medical condition or symptom. Those with medical conditions should consult a medical professional about the appropriateness of taking dietary supplements or diet therapy, and how these methods will interact with their medications.
LINKS
Journal of Experimental Botany has information about flavones.
Apigenin and cancer chemoprevention.
A search for flavones or a specific compound on the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center web site brings up many different herbs containing these phytochemicals.