An in vitro Evaluation of Apigenin and Apigenin-7-O-glucoside Against HeLa Human Cervical Cancer Cell Line

pigenin (API) is a phytocompound belonging to the subclass of flavones that can be found in both functional foods as well as medicinal plants. Recent studies have assigned API antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, anti-thrombotic, anti-angiogenic and chemopreventive potential in vitro on various cell lines and/or in experimental animal models. Apigenin-7-O-glucoside (API-7) is one of its main glycosides and can be commonly found in chamomile flowers, parsley, celery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of API and its glycoside (apigenin-7-O-glucoside) against HeLa human cervical cancer cells. Results have shown that in the set experimental conditions both the aglycone as well as the heteroside elicit antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic potential against the screened cell line, the aglycone being more active than the heteroside.