Home Ingredients Luteolin
Anti-Inflammatory

Luteolin

Evidence Level
Preliminary
2 Clinical Trials
3 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

Luteolin is a flavone found in some vegetables, herbs and spices; typical dietary intake is under 1 mg a day. In lab and animal studies it acts as an antioxidant and shows anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activity, including blocking mast cell activation and NF-κB signaling. Human evidence is thin. An open-label study of a luteolin, quercetin and rutin formula in children with autism reported behavior gains and lower blood IL-6 and TNF, but had no placebo group and did not test luteolin alone. The only placebo-controlled trial of luteolin alone, a small crossover in veterans with Gulf War illness, found no benefit over placebo at 200 or 400 mg a day. In a lab screen of flavonoids, luteolin showed weak activity against senescent cells.

Studied Dose Luteolin alone: 200 then 400 mg a day (1 month each) in a small adult trial. In a children's open-label study: one capsule (100 mg luteolin with quercetin and rutin) per 10 kg of body weight daily.
Active Compound Luteolin (3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone).

Benefits

Mast cell and inflammatory mediators

In lab studies, luteolin blocks mast cell activation and the release of inflammatory mediators. Human data are limited: in an open-label study of 40 children with autism given a luteolin, quercetin and rutin formula for 26 weeks, serum IL-6 and TNF fell from baseline, with no placebo group. In a small placebo-controlled crossover in veterans with Gulf War illness, luteolin alone did not reduce symptoms.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Antioxidant activity (lab studies)

Lab studies describe luteolin as a radical scavenger with cell-protective effects and less pro-oxidant potential than quercetin. After eating, luteolin is largely converted to other compounds, so lab results may not reflect what happens in the body.

Supported by Trial 1

Senescent cell activity in a lab screen

In a screen of 10 flavonoids in senescent mouse cells, luteolin showed weak activity at a dose where quercetin had none, while fisetin was by far the most potent. This is a lab finding only.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Mechanism of action

1

Mast Cell Inhibition

In lab studies, luteolin inhibits mast cell activation and the release of histamine and inflammatory cytokines that follows allergen binding.

2

NF-κB Pathway Inhibition

Lab studies show luteolin suppresses the NF-κB pathway and other pro-inflammatory signals and activates antioxidant enzymes, at concentrations that may be higher than those reached in the body after eating.

Clinical trials

1
Luteolin formula in children with autism (open label)
PubMed

Open-label, 26-week study of a formula with luteolin (100 mg per capsule), quercetin (70 mg) and rutin (30 mg) in olive kernel oil, 1 capsule per 10 kg of body weight daily (Taliou et al. 2013, Clin Ther)

50 children aged 4 to 10 with autism spectrum disorder enrolled; 40 completed.

Adaptive functioning and aberrant behavior scores improved from baseline; 27 of 50 children had transient irritability. A follow-up analysis of the same children found serum IL-6 and TNF fell from baseline, mainly in those whose behavior improved most. There was no placebo group, and luteolin was not tested alone.

2
Luteolin alone in veterans with Gulf War illness (placebo-controlled crossover)
PubMed

Placebo-controlled, pseudo-randomized crossover screening trial in male veterans: 1 month placebo, then luteolin 200 mg/day and 400 mg/day for 1 month each (Hodgin et al. 2021, Int J Environ Res Public Health)

Male veterans with Gulf War illness (21 completed the wider trial; a subset took luteolin).

Luteolin did not reduce symptom severity more than placebo at either the lower (p = 0.718) or higher (p = 0.492) dose. In the same trial, resveratrol did reduce symptoms.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Human safety data come only from small, short studies.
Transient irritability (1 to 8 weeks) occurred in 27 of 50 children in an open-label study of a luteolin, quercetin and rutin formula.

Important Drug interactions

Drug interactions have not been studied in people; if you take prescription medicines, including blood thinners, ask your pharmacist before using luteolin supplements.

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Frequently asked questions about Luteolin

What is luteolin used for?

Luteolin is a flavone found in some vegetables, herbs and spices. It is studied for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, mostly in lab and animal research, and appears in some mast cell and allergy-support formulas.

What is luteolin good for?

Human evidence is limited. A small placebo-controlled trial of luteolin alone found no symptom benefit, and an open-label children's study of a luteolin, quercetin and rutin formula had no placebo group. Most of its reported actions come from lab studies.

How much luteolin should I take?

No dose has been established. A small adult trial used 200 and then 400 mg a day. Follow the product label.

Is luteolin safe?

Safety data come only from small, short studies. Transient irritability was common in an open-label children's study of a luteolin formula. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take prescription medicines.

What is Luteolin?

Luteolin is a flavone found in some vegetables, herbs and spices; typical dietary intake is under 1 mg a day. In lab and animal studies it acts as an antioxidant and shows anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activity, including blocking mast cell activation and NF-κB signaling. Human evidence is thin.

What is the recommended dosage of Luteolin?

The clinically studied dose is Luteolin alone: 200 then 400 mg a day (1 month each) in a small adult trial. In a children's open-label study: one capsule (100 mg luteolin with quercetin and rutin) per 10 kg of body weight daily. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Luteolin safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Luteolin is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Human safety data come only from small, short studies. Transient irritability (1 to 8 weeks) occurred in 27 of 50 children in an open-label study of a luteolin, quercetin and rutin formula. It may also interact with some medications. Luteolin is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Luteolin interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Drug interactions have not been studied in people; if you take prescription medicines, including blood thinners, ask your pharmacist before using luteolin supplements. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Luteolin?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Luteolin as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 2 clinical trials and 6 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(6 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Kritas SK, Saggini A, Varvara G, Murmura G, Caraffa A, Antinolfi P, Toniato E, Pantalone A, Neri G, Frydas S, Rosati M, Tei M, Speziali A, Saggini R, Pandolfi F, Cerulli G, Theoharides TC, Conti P. Luteolin inhibits mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2013;27(4):955-9..PubMedUsed to support: Short paper on mast cell activation in allergic inflammation reporting that luteolin inhibits mast cell activation and mediator release. Laboratory and mechanistic, not a human trial.
  2. Taliou A, Zintzaras E, Lykouras L, Francis K An open-label pilot study of a formulation containing the anti-inflammatory flavonoid luteolin and its effects on behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders. Clin Ther. 2013;35(5):592-602. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2013.04.006.PubMedUsed to support: Open-label 26-week study in 50 children with autism (40 completed) of a formula with luteolin, quercetin and rutin: adaptive functioning and aberrant behavior scores improved from baseline, and 27 of 50 children had transient irritability. No placebo group and not luteolin alone.
  3. Seelinger G, Merfort I, Schempp CM Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities of luteolin. Planta Med. 2008;74(14):1667-77. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1088314.PubMedUsed to support: Review: luteolin is a radical scavenger with less pro-oxidant potential than quercetin, suppresses NF-κB and other pro-inflammatory signals in lab studies, and was active in animal models of inflammation; dietary intake is under 1 mg a day and it is extensively metabolized after absorption.
  4. Tsilioni I, Taliou A, Francis K, Theoharides TC. Children with autism spectrum disorders, who improved with a luteolin-containing dietary formulation, show reduced serum levels of TNF and IL-6. Transl Psychiatry. 2015;5(9):e647. doi: 10.1038/tp.2015.142.PubMedUsed to support: Follow-up analysis of the open-label luteolin/quercetin/rutin pilot cohort (40 children with autism). Serum IL-6 and TNF fell significantly from baseline after 26 weeks (P=0.036 and P=0.015), and the falls were concentrated in children whose behaviour improved most. There was no placebo group and the formula was a combination. Supports the preliminary human cytokine sentence in the mast cell and inflammatory mediators benefit.
  5. Hodgin KS, Donovan EK, Kekes-Szabo S, Lin JC, Feick J, Massey RL, Ness TJ, Younger JW. A Placebo-Controlled, Pseudo-Randomized, Crossover Trial of Botanical Agents for Gulf War Illness: Resveratrol (Polygonum cuspidatum), Luteolin, and Fisetin (Rhus succedanea). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(5):2483. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052483.PubMedUsed to support: Placebo-controlled, pseudo-randomized crossover screening trial in male Gulf War illness veterans: luteolin alone at 200 mg/day and then 400 mg/day, a month each, did not reduce symptom severity more than placebo (p = 0.718 and p = 0.492), while resveratrol did.
  6. Yousefzadeh MJ, Zhu Y, McGowan SJ, Angelini L, Fuhrmann-Stroissnigg H, Xu M, Ling YY, Melos KI, Pirtskhalava T, Inman CL, McGuckian C, Wade EA, Kato JI, Grassi D, Wentworth M, Burd CE, Arriaga EA, Ladiges WL, Tchkonia T, Kirkland JL, Robbins PD, Niedernhofer LJ. Fisetin is a senotherapeutic that extends health and lifespan. EBioMedicine. 2018;36:18-28. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.09.015.PubMedUsed to support: Screen of 10 flavonoids in senescent mouse fibroblasts: fisetin was the most potent, and it also reduced senescence in human fibroblasts; in the full text, luteolin and curcumin showed weak activity in mouse cells at a dose where quercetin was ineffective. Luteolin was not tested further.