Supplement

    Luteolin

    TL;DR

    Luteolin is a plant flavone with strong anti-inflammatory and mast-cell-stabilising activity in the lab. Human trials are few and small, mostly in autism and brain fog formulas combined with other flavonoids.

    Ideal For

    • People with mast cell activation symptoms exploring adjuncts alongside antihistamines
    • Those researching neuroinflammation-related brain fog under clinician guidance

    Avoid If

    • You are pregnant or breastfeeding
    • You take drugs metabolised by CYP enzymes without checking interactions
    • You have a known allergy to Asteraceae plants such as chamomile

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Overview

    Luteolin occurs in celery, parsley, chamomile, thyme and green pepper, and it has become one of the more heavily studied flavones in neuroinflammation research. In cell and animal models it inhibits mast cell degranulation, suppresses microglial activation, and blocks IL-6, TNF-alpha and NF-kB signalling — a coherent package that explains its appearance in "brain fog", histamine intolerance and long-COVID formulas. The human evidence is much thinner than the preclinical volume suggests. The most cited trials come from Theoharides' group, using a luteolin-plus-quercetin formulation in children with autism spectrum disorder, where open-label and small controlled work reported improvements in social communication scores. There is also small work in mastocytosis-related brain fog. What does not exist is a large, independent, placebo-controlled trial of luteolin alone for any condition. Bioavailability is the practical constraint: free luteolin is poorly absorbed and extensively glucuronidated, which is why liposomal and olive-oil-suspended preparations dominate the market. Treat luteolin as mechanistically compelling and clinically unproven.

    How It Works

    • Stabilises mast cells, reducing histamine, tryptase and IL-6 release
    • Inhibits microglial activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the CNS
    • Suppresses NF-kB signalling, the master switch for inflammatory gene transcription
    • Inhibits PDE4 and acts as an antioxidant scavenging reactive oxygen species

    Benefits & Outcomes

    No linked outcomes yet. Research is ongoing.

    Health Concerns Addressed

    Brain Fog

    symptom
    Insufficient evidence
    Limited
    Effectiveness 2/5

    Strong neuroinflammation mechanism, real interest in mast-cell-driven brain fog, but the human trials are tiny and used combination formulas.

    Supporting Research
    4 studies

    Luteolin, a flavonoid with potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activity: a review of mechanisms and clinical evidence

    Score: 5/10
    2015
    systematic_review

    Nabavi SF, Braidy N, Gortzi O

    Luteolin inhibits NF-kB signalling and mast cell activation in preclinical models, with human clinical evidence still very limited.

    View source

    Bioavailability and metabolism of dietary luteolin in humans

    Score: 4/10
    1998
    crossover
    n=11

    Shimoi K, Okada H, Furugori M

    Orally administered luteolin circulates largely as glucuronide conjugates with limited free luteolin.

    View source

    Effect of a polyphenol formulation containing luteolin on chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

    Score: 5/10
    2009
    rct
    n=143

    Cai T, Mazzoli S, Bechi A

    Adding a luteolin-containing flavonoid formulation to antibiotics improved symptom scores in chronic prostatitis.

    View source

    A luteolin-containing dietary formulation in children with autism spectrum disorders: an open-label pilot study

    Score: 3/10
    2012
    observational
    n=37

    Theoharides TC, Asadi S, Panagiotidou S

    A luteolin-quercetin formulation was associated with improved communication scores in children with autism in an uncontrolled study.

    View source

    Safety Information

    Potential Side Effects

    Generally well tolerated. Reported effects include GI upset, headache and occasional irritability, particularly in the paediatric formulation studies.

    Contraindications

    Pregnancy and lactation due to absent safety data.

    Drug Interactions

    • May inhibit CYP1A2, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4, potentially raising levels of drugs cleared by these enzymes
    • Theoretical additive effect with antiplatelet drugs

    Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

    Pregnancy: insufficient_data

    Breastfeeding: insufficient_data

    Dosage Guidelines

    Dosage Used in Studies

    Consult healthcare provider

    Forms Compared

    Food & Timing

    With a fat-containing meal; flavone absorption improves substantially with dietary lipid.

    Medical Disclaimer

    The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before starting any supplement regimen.

    Individual results may vary. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.