Apigenin is an antioxidant flavonoid. Has chemopreventive and antitumor  properties. Induces apoptosis. Inhibits the proliferation of malignant tumor cells by G2/M arrest. Is a MAP-Kinase (MAPK/ERK) inhibitor. Inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Induces gastric relaxation in mouse stomach, mainly by suppressing Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-dependent calcium channels. Apigenin is a selective inhibitor of CK2. In WEHI 231 cells inhibition of CK2 by apigenin decreased the rate of IκBα turnover and nuclear levels of NF-κB (20 µM).