Apigenin impedes cell cycle progression at G2 phase in prostate cancer cells

As a natural flavone, apigenin is abundantly present in vegetables, fruits, oregano, tea, chamomile, wheat sprout and is regarded as a major component of the Mediterranean diet. Apigenin is known to inhibit proliferation in different cancer cell lines by inducing G(2)/M arrest, but it is unclear whether this action is predominantly imposed on G(2) or M phases. In this study, we demonstrate that apigenin arrests prostate cancer cells at G(2) phase by flow cytometric analysis of prostate cancer cells co-stained for phospho-Histone H-3 and DNA. Concurrently, apigenin also reduces the mRNA and protein levels of the key regulators that govern G(2)-M transition. Further analysis using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) confirmed the diminished transcriptional activities of the genes coding for these regulators. Unravelling the inhibitory effect of apigenin on G(2)-M transition in cancer cells provides the mechanistic understanding of its action and supports the potential for apigenin as an anti-cancer agent.

Automated summary

Apigenin, a natural flavone found in various foods, has been shown to inhibit proliferation of prostate cancer cells by arresting them at the G(2) phase. It also reduces the expression of key regulators involved in G(2)-M transition. This study provides mechanistic insights into the inhibitory effect of apigenin on cancer cell growth and supports its potential as an anti-cancer agent.