NANOENCAPSULATION OF LUTEOLIN: ENHANCING BIOAVAILABILITY AND MEDICINAL BENEFITS

Luteolin is a naturally occurring chemical widely found in plants ranging from Bryophyta to Magnoliophyta. It can be obtained from several dietary sources such as carrots, olive oil, celery, spinach, oregano, and, fossils of some organisms such as Celtis and Ulmus dating back 36 to 25 million years. It is synthesized by the Shikimate pathway. The major qualities and therapeutic benefits of luteolin include cytoprotective abilities, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Anticancer, Antidepressant, Antidiabetic, Antiallergic, Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging and High radical scavenging. The antioxidant and Reactive Oxygen Species scavenging activity of luteolin aids in treating and curing inflammatory skin processes. It has been proven to act as a therapeutic drug with a wide spectrum of scope in the prevention and treatment of a vast range of malignant and benign cancers, extending from bladder cancer to breast cancer and from oral cancer to glioblastoma, which is achieved by its anticancer, antioxidant properties and cytoprotective abilities. Apart from its anticancer properties, it has a great scope in the restoration from neuropsychiatric disease and high-level fatigue due to Long COVID syndrome-associated brain fog and Chemo fog. The poor solubility and low bioavailability of luteolin limit its use in food and medicine. Synthetic and Natural polymer-based delivery systems have been developed to improve its stability and bioavailability. This review will highlight recent research on its nanoencapsulation and provide more information on luteolin to help readers have a better grasp of the compound's medicinal benefits