---
title: "Dietary Luteolin Reduces Proinflammatory Microglia in the Brain…"
description: "Dietary luteolin reduced age-related proinflammatory microglia activity in the brains of senescent mice."
url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d26918466.md"
canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d26918466.html"
html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d26918466.html"
type: "study"
study_key: "d26918466"
journal: "Rejuvenation Res"
year: 2016
pmid: "26918466"
doi: "10.1089/rej.2015.1708"
citations: 1
updated: 2026-09-02
author: "Gabriel Radu, DO"
author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765."
publisher: "Magellan Longevity"
content_format: "markdown"
---

# Dietary Luteolin Reduces Proinflammatory Microglia in the Brain of Senescent Mice

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## Citation

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Journal | Rejuvenation Res |
| Year | 2016 |
| PMID | [26918466](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26918466/) |
| DOI | [10.1089/rej.2015.1708](https://doi.org/10.1089/rej.2015.1708) |
| Study key | d26918466 |

## Takeaway

Dietary luteolin reduced age-related proinflammatory microglia activity in the brains of senescent mice.

## The question

Does dietary luteolin reduce microglia activity in the brain of senescent mice?

## Hypothesis

Feeding aged mice a diet with luteolin would reduce microglia activity.

## Methods

Adult (3-6 months) and aged (22-24 months) mice were fed either a control diet (AIN-93M) or a diet supplemented with luteolin (6 g/kg) for 4 weeks. They were then injected with either saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Microglia were isolated and stained for MHC class II, IL-1β, and IL-6 for flow cytometry.

## Results

In saline-treated mice on a control diet, aging increased the proportion of microglia staining for MHC class II (from <3% in adults to 23% in aged), IL-1β (from <2% in adults to 25% in aged), and IL-6 (from <2% in adults to 25% in aged). In saline-treated aged mice fed luteolin, these proportions were reduced by nearly half to 12% for MHC class II, 13% for IL-1β, and 12% for IL-6. Luteolin also significantly reduced IL-1β and IL-6 staining in LPS-treated adult mice, but not in aged mice.

## Conclusion

A diet supplemented with luteolin inhibited brain microglia activity during aging and also inhibited activation by LPS in adult mice. Luteolin may inhibit neuroinflammation and improve cognition in healthy aged individuals by constraining brain microglia.

## Limitations

The study did not investigate the effects of luteolin on LPS-treated aged mice for IL-1β and IL-6, as the reduction was not significant in this group.

## Verbatim from the abstract

> a diet supplemented with luteolin inhibited brain microglia activity during aging

## Proportion of Proinflammatory Microglia in Aged Mice

| Measure | Proportion of Microglia (%) |
| --- | --- |
| Aged Control - MHC class II | 23 |
| Aged Luteolin - MHC class II | 12 |
| Aged Control - IL-1β | 25 |
| Aged Luteolin - IL-1β | 13 |
| Aged Control - IL-6 | 25 |
| Aged Luteolin - IL-6 | 12 |

*The chart shows the percentage of microglia staining for proinflammatory markers in aged mice fed a control diet versus those fed a luteolin-supplemented diet.*

## Where this study is used on Magellan

This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions.

| Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Luteolin Capsules | Emerging evidence | [Luteolin Capsules](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/115.md) |

## Reference

1. **Dietary Luteolin Reduces Proinflammatory Microglia in the Brain of Senescent Mice**
   Rejuvenation Res 2016 · [PMID 26918466](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26918466/) · [DOI 10.1089/rej.2015.1708](https://doi.org/10.1089/rej.2015.1708)

   > a diet supplemented with luteolin inhibited brain microglia activity during aging

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## Related on Magellan Longevity

- [Luteolin Capsules](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/115.md) — product graded on this and related evidence
- [Evidence: inhibits neuroinflammation, ER stress](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s115.md)
- [Neuroprotective effects of flavone luteolin in neuroinflammation and neurotrauma](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d33098588.md)
- [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html)
- [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md)

## Scope and disclosures

Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.

Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases.

Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).