NOS2 and inflammatory response: In a cell model (HT-29 cells) of intestinal inflammation, it was found that luteolin efficiently could inhibit the secretion of these important cytokine-induced inflammatory mediators like interleukine-8 (IL-8), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), suggesting that this compound had the anti-inflammatory potential to alleviate intestinal inflammation [9].