Luteolin, chemical feature and potential use for oral disease

Luteolin, a natural polyphenolic flavone, is a bioactive compound with high thermal stability. Owing to its prominent antioxidant activity, luteolin has been reported to exert therapeutic effects on inflammation-associated diseases. This review discusses the therapeutic potential of luteolin for treating dental diseases.

Luteolin has multifaceted pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticancer, and cardioprotective effects. Furthermore, the antibacterial effects of luteolin are accompanied by an anti-biofilm effect. More recently, luteolin has been identified as an inhibitor of protein kinase R (PKR), which plays an essential role in inflammasome activation. In this regard, we demonstrated the potential of luteolin as a pulp sedation compound for pulpitis that acts by suppressing PKR-mediated inflammation in dental pulp cells.

Although conventional dental treatments for dental caries or periodontitis largely depend on cause-related therapy, disruption of biofilms and regulation of inflammation are prerequisites for a favorable prognosis. Together with its superior anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, the biocompatible features of luteolin make it a promising candidate for treating dental diseases with fewer side effects.