FIGURE 3.

Effects of apigenin on CC cell proliferation via targeted blocking of PKM2‐dependent glycolysis. Apigenin could inhibit the activity and expression of PKM2, which is the last rate‐limiting enzyme in glycolysis. In addition to its effects on PKM2, apigenin also influenced the expression of PKM1. The regulation of PKM2 and PKM1 expression by apigenin was mediated through the β‐catenin/c‐Myc signaling pathway. Apigenin significantly reduced the expression of β‐catenin and c‐Myc, which are downstream target genes of β‐catenin. Overall, these findings suggest that apigenin may play a crucial role in inhibiting CC cell proliferation by targeting the PKM2‐mediated glycolysis pathway and inducing a switch from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation.