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    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

    What is luteolin?
    A flavone found in celery, parsley, thyme, chamomile and peppers, studied largely for anti-inflammatory and mast-cell stabilising effects.
    What is the evidence in humans?
    Thin. Most work is laboratory and animal research on neuroinflammation and mast cells; the few human studies use combination formulas, often with quercetin.
    What dose is used?
    Products typically supply 100-300 mg/day, sometimes with a phospholipid or liposomal carrier to improve poor oral absorption.
    Is absorption an issue?
    Yes. Like most flavonoids, luteolin is poorly absorbed and rapidly conjugated, so plasma levels stay well below concentrations used in cell studies.
    Does it help brain fog or mast cell activation?
    Interest is real but evidence is preliminary. Small studies in autism and chronic fatigue used multi-ingredient formulas and were not placebo controlled.
    Is it safe?
    Short-term use appears well tolerated. Long-term safety is unknown, and it may interact with drugs metabolised by CYP enzymes.

    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 as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agent: A brief review

    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

    Intestinal absorption of luteolin and luteolin 7-O-beta-glucoside in rats and 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

    Serenoa repens associated with Urtica dioica (ProstaMEV) and curcumin and quercitin (FlogMEV) extracts are able to improve the efficacy of prulifloxacin in bacterial prostatitis patients: results from a prospective randomised study

    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 case series of a luteolin formulation (NeuroProtek®) in children with autism spectrum disorders

    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: Not enough evidence to judge

    Breastfeeding: Not enough evidence to judge

    Dosage Guidelines

    Dosage Used in Studies

    Consult healthcare provider

    Dosing by Goal

    GoalDoseNotes
    Typical100-300 mg daily
    Research formulationsRoughly 100 mg per 10 kg body weight daily in the paediatric autism studies
    NotesTake with fat to improve absorption

    Forms Compared

    Liposomal luteolin

    Improves the poor oral bioavailability of free luteolin

    Luteolin in olive oil suspension

    Format used in the autism research formulations

    Standard capsules

    Cheapest but least absorbable

    Combined with quercetin/rutin

    How most of the human trial products were formulated

    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.