Apigenin: A dietary flavonoid with diverse anticancer properties

Apigenin is a natural flavonoid found in several dietary plant foods such as vegetables and fruits. A large number of studies conducted over the past years have shown that this particular natural compound has potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Therefore, apigenin has generated a great deal of interest as a possible chemotherapeutic modality due to its low intrinsic toxicity and remarkable effects on normal versus cancerous cells, compared with other structurally related flavonoids. Here, we review its role in anticancer research, as well as several cancer signalling pathways, including MAPK, PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways, and their specific role in different cancer types. Based on the available literature, the beneficial effects of apigenin as a future anticancer modality are promising but they require further in vitro and in vivo studies to enable its translation from bench to bedside.