Does increasing apigenin improve Crohn's symptoms?

Apigenin from Wikipedia

"Apigenin (4’,5,7-trihydroxyflavone), found in many plants, is a natural product belonging to the flavone class that is the aglycone of several naturally-occurring glycosides. It is a yellow crystalline solid that has been used to dye wool. Apigenin may contribute to the chemopreventive action of vegetables and fruits.[2] It was recently shown that apigenin induces a process called autophagia (a kind of cellular dormancy) that may well explain its chemopreventive properties, but at the same time it induces resistance against chemotherapy.[3] Apigenin is a potent inhibitor of CYP2C9,[4] an enzyme responsible for the metabolism of many pharmaceutical drugs in the body."

"Anti-inflammatory activity of structurally related flavonoids,Apigenin, Luteolin and Fisetin" in International Immunopharmacology (2011)

"Flavonoids are widely distributed in many fruits and plants, and it has been shown that most flavonoids have anti-inflammatory activity; however, the mechanisms of how the flavonoids exhibit their anti-inflammatory activity have not been clarified. We therefore focus on flavonoids Apigenin, Luteolin and Fisetin because of their related structure. We found that these compounds significantly inhibited TNFα-induced NF-κB transcriptional activation; however, they had no effect on the degradation of IκB proteins and the nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity of NF-κB p65 [IFDR1]."

"Flavonoids exert distinct modulatory actions on cyclooxygenase 2 and NF-κB in an intestinal epithelial cell line (IEC18)" in British Journal of Pharacology (2010)
"Apigenin exhibited an apparent trend for higher induction of COX-2 at 100 µM,..."

Does flavonoid supplementation improve Crohn's symptoms?

Flavonoid from Wikipedia

Flavinoid mind map from Wikipedia (flavanols, flavones, anthocyanidines, isoflavonoids, neoflavonoids)

Formerly known as vitamin P

Flavonoids from the world's healthiest foods
"Flavonoids, an amazing array of over 6,000 different substances found in virtually all plants, are responsible for many of the plant colors that dazzle us with their brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red.....While the flavonoid family is too complex to report all of its food connections, some highlights are especially important. In the fruit family, it is berries that come out highest in the chemical category of flavonoids called anthocyanins. Black raspberries, for example, may contain up to 100 milligrams of anthocyanins per ounce. ... In general the more colorful components of the food--like the skins of fruits--contain the highest concentration of flavonoids."

"Emerging Role of Antioxidants in the Protection of Uveitis Complications" in Current Medicinal Chemistry (2011)
"Many studies suggest that dark colored fruits such as berries; including blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry are rich in flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds and are endowed with beneficial properties in vision and eye health. ... All these antioxidants described here are well known to control the production of reactive oxygen species as well as their dependent activation of redox-sensitive transcription factors such as NF-κB and AP1. Further, most of the flavinoids have shown to prevent the activation of several key enymes [sic] such as aldose reductase that controls the oxidative stress signals."

Do blueberries reduce Crohn's symptoms?

Blueberry from Wikipedia

Blueberries from the world's healthiest foods

"Protective Effect of Anthocyanins Extract from Blueberry on TNBS-Induced IBD Model of Mice" in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2011) [full article]

"Blueberries are among the fruits that are best recognized for their potential health benefits [1], and many of the heath-promoting properties of blueberries are thought to be attributable to anthocyanins that structurally belong to the natural products of flavonoids (Figure 1). Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments that might appear as red, purple or blue pigments according to their pH levels and are present in blueberries at high concentrations [2]. Anthocyanins from blueberries are also used as anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and rhodophylactic agents, and the principal therapeutic benefits attributable to anthocyanins include antioxidant protection and maintenance of DNA integrity [3, 4].

...
Thus, evaluation of the protective effect of anthocyanins extract of blueberry on IBD might shed light on drug discovery or alternative therapy for IBD treatment.

...

Our results suggest that the protective effect of anthocyanins extract may be linked to the re-equilibration of the irregular expression of cytokines induced by colitis. Therefore, we can presume that the high-dose intake of anthocyanins extract from blueberries (or blueberries) can have some beneficial effects on IBD."

Anthocyanin on Wikipedia

"Studies on apple and blueberry fruit constituents: Do the polyphenols reach the colon after ingestion?" in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (2006)
"The aim of our studies was to determine the amount of polyphenols reaching the colon after oral intake of apple juice and blueberries.... A higher amount of the blueberry anthocyanins under study (up to 85%, depending on the sugar moiety) were determined in the ileostomy bags and therefore would reach the colon under physiological circumstances. Such structure-related availability has to be considered when polyphenols are used in model systems to study potential preventive effects in colorectal diseases."

Probiotics and Blueberry Attenuate the Severity of Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-Induced Colitis in Digestive Diseases and Sciences (2008)
"Cecal Enterobacteriaceae count decreased significantly in blueberry with and without probiotics compared to the other groups."

"Chemoprevention of Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Induced Carcinogenesis in Rodent Models by Berries" in Berries and Cancer Prevention (2011)
"Long-term chronic inflammation including inflammatory bowel disease is a well-recognized risk factor for cancer development. Fresh fruits, particularly berries, have been well documented as having protective effects against inflammation and cancer development. There are several key elements in the berries with functions against cancer, including vitamins (A, C, E, and folic acid), minerals (calcium and selenium), phenol compounds (particularly ellagic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, coumaric acid, quercetin and anthocyanins), phytosterols (β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol) and oligosaccharides. This chapter focuses on linking berries to chronic colitis-induced carcinogenesis from experimental evidence to potential usefulness on cancer prevention and treatment."

"Influence of dietary blueberry and broccoli on cecal microbiota activity and colon morphology in mdr1a−/− mice, a model of inflammatory bowel diseases" in Nutrition (2012)
"In comparison to mice fed the control diet, blueberry and broccoli supplementation altered cecum microbiota similarly with the exception of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which was found to be significantly lower in broccoli-fed mice. High concentrations of butyric acid and low concentrations of succinic acid were observed in the cecum of broccoli-fed mice. Blueberry- and broccoli-supplemented diets increased colon crypt size and the number of goblet cells per crypt. Only the broccoli-supplemented diet significantly lowered colonic inflammation compared to mice fed the control diet. Translocation of total microbes to mesenteric lymph nodes was lower in broccoli-fed mice compared to blueberry and control diet groups."

Does feverfew reduce Crohn's symptoms?

Feverfew on Wikipedia

Does quercetin reduce Crohn's symptoms?

Quercetin on Wikipedia
" ... a plant-derived flavonoid found in fruits, vegetables, leaves and grains."

"Several laboratory studies show quercetin may have anti-inflammatory properties, and it is being investigated for a wide range of potential health benefits. From in vitro studies, quercetin has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting both synthesis and release of histamine and other allergic/inflammatory mediators. In addition, it may have antioxidant activity and vitamin C-sparing action."

Other names: Sophoretin, Meletin, Quercetine, Xanthaurine, Quercetol, Quercitin, Quertine, Flavin meletin

Flavonoids from Wikipedia

Good sources of flavonoids include all citrus fruits, berries, ginkgo biloba, onions[28][29] (particularly red onion[30]), parsley,[31] pulses,[32] tea (especially white and green tea), red wine, seabuckthorn, anddark chocolate (with a cocoa content of seventy percent or greater).flavonoids, derived from 2-phenylchromen-4-one (2-phenyl-1,4-benzopyrone) structure (examples: quercetin, rutin).

Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids) (from the Latin word flavus meaning yellow), also collectively known as Vitamin P and citrin,[1] are a class of plant secondary metabolites or yellow pigments having a structure similar to that of flavones. According to the IUPAC nomenclature,[2] they can be classified into:
isoflavonoids, derived from 3-phenylchromen-4-one (3-phenyl-1,4-benzopyrone) structure
neoflavonoids, derived from 4-phenylcoumarine (4-phenyl-1,2-benzopyrone) structure.

neoflavonoids, derived from 4-phenylcoumarine (4-phenyl-1,2-benzopyrone) structure.

Good sources of flavonoids include all citrus fruits, berries, ginkgo biloba, onions[28][29] (particularly red onion[30]), parsley,[31] pulses,[32] tea (especially white and green tea), red wine, seabuckthorn, anddark chocolate (with a cocoa content of seventy percent or greater).

"Quercetin Inhibits TNF-Induced NF-?B Transcription Factor Recruitment to Proinflammatory Gene Promoters in Murine Intestinal Epithelial Cells" In American Society for Nutrition (2007)

"These studies support an anti-inflammatory effect of quercetin in epithelial cells through mechanisms that inhibit cofactor recruitment at the chromatin of proinflammatory genes."

"Influence of Quercetin Supplementation on Disease Risk Factors in Community-Dwelling Adults" in Journal of the American Dietetic Association (2011)

"Change in inflammatory measures did not differ between groups except for a slight decrease in interleukin-6 for the Q-1,000 group.

Conclusions
Q-500 or Q-1,000 supplementation for 12 weeks had a negligible influence on disease risk factors."