The Study
Apigenin suppresses the senescence-associated secretory phenotype and paracrine effects on breast cancer cells
This study tested a plant chemical called apigenin in petri dishes with human cells in a lab. It showed that the chemical made the cells act differently — like they were less angry and less likely to help cancer grow. But it didn't test this in people or animals, so we don't know if eating foods with apigenin does the same thing in your body.
Analysis score
Maximum 58 for a case-control study.
Where the score came from
As we age, some cells get stuck and start spewing harmful inflammatory signals that make nearby cancer cells more aggressive. This study tested a natural compound in plants called apigenin to see if it can silence these angry signals.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 552 / 100
Quality score
Researchers compare people who have a condition (cases) with similar people who do not (controls), looking back in time for differences in exposure. Useful but more prone to bias.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — by calming the inflammatory signals from aging cells, apigenin reduced their ability to make breast cancer spread and become more dangerous, suggesting it could help prevent cancer progression.
- 2Apigenin (10 μM) cut inflammatory signals like IL-6 and CXCL10 by over 50% in aging human cells, and made breast cancer cells less invasive and more like normal cells — without killing the aging cells.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
GeroScience
Year
2017
Authors
Kevin M. Perrott, Christopher D. Wiley, P. Desprez, J. Campisi
Related Content
Videos (1)
Claims (7)
Apigenin reduces the release of inflammatory signaling molecules IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL10 from aged, non-dividing cells.
Apigenin reduces the ability of aged fibroblasts to promote cancer cell growth, invasion, and transformation into a more aggressive state in human breast cancer cells, resulting in lower cancer cell proliferation, less invasion through basement membranes, higher levels of epithelial markers, and lower levels of mesenchymal markers.
Apigenin blocks a specific inflammatory signaling pathway triggered by IL-1α in aged human skin cells, leading to lower production of inflammatory proteins IL-6 and CXCL10, without changing established markers of cellular aging.
Apigenin at 10 μM reduces the release of specific inflammatory signals from aged human skin cells damaged by radiation, cancer genes, or natural aging, which lowers the surrounding inflammation that makes cancer cells more aggressive.
At a concentration of 10 μM, apigenin reduces inflammatory signals from aged human skin cells without killing the cells or reversing their aged state.
Apigenin reduces the release of inflammatory signaling molecules from aged human skin cells in laboratory cultures.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.