Preclinical evidence for luteolin in ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis and systematic review

BackgroundEvidence suggests that luteolin (LUT) may offer therapeutic potential in treating ulcerative colitis (UC), though its specific pharmacological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This meta-analysis aims to assess the pharmacological effects of LUT in UC animal models and investigate...

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Main Authors: Yiyi Feng, Xingyao Lu, Enjia Guo, Jianling Mo, Yichuan Xv
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1639644/full
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author Yiyi Feng
Xingyao Lu
Xingyao Lu
Enjia Guo
Jianling Mo
Yichuan Xv
author_facet Yiyi Feng
Xingyao Lu
Xingyao Lu
Enjia Guo
Jianling Mo
Yichuan Xv
author_sort Yiyi Feng
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundEvidence suggests that luteolin (LUT) may offer therapeutic potential in treating ulcerative colitis (UC), though its specific pharmacological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This meta-analysis aims to assess the pharmacological effects of LUT in UC animal models and investigate its potential mechanisms of action.MethodsA comprehensive search of five databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, and ScienceDirect, was conducted to identify studies investigating the effects of LUT on UC. The search, covering data up to March 2025, yielded 19 eligible studies involving a total of 327 animal subjects. The outcomes were analyzed using the standard mean difference with a 95% confidence interval in R (4.3.3) software.ResultsThe meta-analysis revealed that LUT significantly ameliorated colon length, reduced the disease activity index, alleviated body weight loss, and decreased histological scores. Further mechanistic analysis indicated that LUT exerts its effects through multiple mechanisms, including the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, elevation of anti-inflammatory cytokines, promotion of tight junction protein expression, and improvement of oxidative stress-related indices. However, LUT appears to have no significant impact on the α-diversity of the intestinal microbiota.ConclusionThis study suggests that LUT may exert significant therapeutic effects in UC animal models through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and barrier-protective mechanisms. Further clinical studies and translational research are essential to bridge the gap between animal models and human applications.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://inplasy.com/inplasy-2025-5-0055/, identifier INPLASY202550055.
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spelling doaj-art-49e3239a89bc4dc590b9def28aaacde82025-08-20T02:46:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-07-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16396441639644Preclinical evidence for luteolin in ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis and systematic reviewYiyi Feng0Xingyao Lu1Xingyao Lu2Enjia Guo3Jianling Mo4Yichuan Xv5Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Hangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaBackgroundEvidence suggests that luteolin (LUT) may offer therapeutic potential in treating ulcerative colitis (UC), though its specific pharmacological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This meta-analysis aims to assess the pharmacological effects of LUT in UC animal models and investigate its potential mechanisms of action.MethodsA comprehensive search of five databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, and ScienceDirect, was conducted to identify studies investigating the effects of LUT on UC. The search, covering data up to March 2025, yielded 19 eligible studies involving a total of 327 animal subjects. The outcomes were analyzed using the standard mean difference with a 95% confidence interval in R (4.3.3) software.ResultsThe meta-analysis revealed that LUT significantly ameliorated colon length, reduced the disease activity index, alleviated body weight loss, and decreased histological scores. Further mechanistic analysis indicated that LUT exerts its effects through multiple mechanisms, including the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, elevation of anti-inflammatory cytokines, promotion of tight junction protein expression, and improvement of oxidative stress-related indices. However, LUT appears to have no significant impact on the α-diversity of the intestinal microbiota.ConclusionThis study suggests that LUT may exert significant therapeutic effects in UC animal models through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and barrier-protective mechanisms. Further clinical studies and translational research are essential to bridge the gap between animal models and human applications.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://inplasy.com/inplasy-2025-5-0055/, identifier INPLASY202550055.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1639644/fullluteolinulcerative colitissystematic reviewmeta analysisanimal model
spellingShingle Yiyi Feng
Xingyao Lu
Xingyao Lu
Enjia Guo
Jianling Mo
Yichuan Xv
Preclinical evidence for luteolin in ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis and systematic review
Frontiers in Pharmacology
luteolin
ulcerative colitis
systematic review
meta analysis
animal model
title Preclinical evidence for luteolin in ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis and systematic review
title_full Preclinical evidence for luteolin in ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis and systematic review
title_fullStr Preclinical evidence for luteolin in ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis and systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Preclinical evidence for luteolin in ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis and systematic review
title_short Preclinical evidence for luteolin in ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis and systematic review
title_sort preclinical evidence for luteolin in ulcerative colitis a meta analysis and systematic review
topic luteolin
ulcerative colitis
systematic review
meta analysis
animal model
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1639644/full
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AT enjiaguo preclinicalevidenceforluteolininulcerativecolitisametaanalysisandsystematicreview
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