IL6 and neoplasm: Recently, protective roles of apigenin have been confirmed in esophageal tumors: in in vitro and in vivo experimental models, this flavonoid has been reported to (i) induce apoptosis of tumor cells, (ii) inhibit tumor-dependent angiogenesis, and (iii) attenuate inflammatory responses, by inhibiting gene expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6, whose levels are elevated in tumor tissues [192,193].