What does luteolin mean?
Luteolin is the common name of a naturally occurring yellow flavonoid, a class of plant compounds also found in many familiar fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Chemically, it is known as 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone and has the characteristic flavone structure. Researchers study luteolin because it exhibits antioxidant activity and interacts with several cellular targets, although scientific and medical discussions of its effects require careful interpretation. In botanical and food-science research, its presence may be described in terms of luteolin content or concentration, while pharmaceutical and chemical research may concern isolated luteolin, its derivatives, or related compounds. The name luteolin ultimately reflects the yellow colour associated with this compound. For most readers, luteolin is primarily a technical name encountered in scientific literature, natural-product research, and the study of dietary flavonoids.
nounLuteolin is a yellow crystalline flavonoid found in many plants and studied for its antioxidant and other biological activities. Chemically, it is 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone.
- A yellow flavonoid compound occurring naturally in plants, especially in leaves, flowers, and fruits, and studied in biochemistry and pharmacology.
"The researchers measured the luteolin content in several samples of the herbal extract."
"Luteolin was identified among the flavonoid compounds present in the extract."
"The study examined how luteolin levels in the plant varied with environmental conditions."
Rare; luteolin is normally used as a singular mass noun for the specific chemical compound.
"The researchers compared the biological properties of several luteolins."
Luteolin takes its name from the Latin word for yellow, reflecting the colour of the naturally occurring flavonoid.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does luteolin come from?
The name luteolin is formed from a stem connected with Latin luteus, meaning “yellow,” with a chemical suffix meaning “a substance or principle.” The name reflects luteolin’s appearance as a yellow compound and its place among yellow plant pigments called flavonoids. Related English words include luteous, luteal, and lutein, which likewise derive from Latin roots associated with yellow.
How luteolin is actually used
Luteolin is specialized scientific vocabulary rather than an everyday word. It normally appears singularly and is used in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, and discussions of plant-derived compounds.