Luteolin exerts an anticancer effect on gastric cancer cells through multiple signaling pathways and regulating miRNAs

Abstract

Accumulating studies confirmed that luteolin, a common dietary flavonoid which is widely distributed in plants and has diverse beneficial biological function, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation and anticancer properties. However, the detail mechanisms of luteolin on GC are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the anticancer effect of luteolin in GC cells <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. Luteolin reduced the cell viability in a time and dose-dependent manner. Luteolin significantly inhibited cell cycle progress, colony formation, proliferation, migration, invasion and promoted apoptosis <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. Luteolin also regulated these biological effects associated regulators. Mechanically, luteolin treatment regulated Notch1, PI3K, AKT, mTOR, ERK, STAT3 and P38 signaling pathways and modulated a series of miRNAs expression. These findings provide novel insight into the molecular function of luteolin which suggest its potential as a therapeutic agent for human GC.