Figure 3.

The schematic representation showing luteolin exerting its anticancer activity in NCI-H460 cells through the ER stress pathway. Luteolin increases ER stress expression-related proteins such as CHOP and p-eIF2α. As the cells were treated with eIF2α siRNA, the expression of CHOP and p-eIF2α was remarkably reduced, which prevented the apoptotic activity of luteolin, clearly suggesting the involvement of ER stress in apoptosis after luteolin treatment. Luteolin also stimulates Bax, Bad, and Bcl2, in turn activating caspase-3 and 9, leading to apoptosis (cell death).