Apigenin Explained Simply

1. What It Is About

Apigenin belongs to the flavonoids, a large family of plant pigments. Within this family, it is classified as a flavone. It is found in many plants, for example in chamomile, parsley, celery, onions and tea. It is particularly abundant in flowers and leaves. In plants, the substance protects against sunlight and harmful oxygen compounds that arise from stress. In the plant, apigenin is usually bound to sugar molecules, for example as apigenin-7-glucoside. Pure apigenin is colourless to slightly yellowish. For the body, it is important to note that only a small proportion of apigenin is absorbed. A large part leaves the body again before it reaches the bloodstream. This is why only small amounts are measurable in the blood, even if apigenin is taken. Many laboratory experiments, on the other hand, work with much higher quantities.

2. What Studies Show

Showed: A controlled study in 80 women during menopause is the most informative 1. The women received either a chamomile extract containing apigenin or a placebo for twelve weeks. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was in which group. After the study, the women who took the extract reported fewer hot flushes and night sweats. There was no difference between the groups in terms of mood, physical well-being or sex life. Two participants discontinued the study due to mild complaints: inflammation of the oral mucosa and skin spots occurred. This study examined an extract, not apigenin alone.

Plausible In addition, there are many laboratory and animal studies. In cell cultures with leukaemia cells, apigenin reduced cell growth and induced cell death 2. In rats with high blood pressure, apigenin reduced thickening of the vessel walls 4. In a rabbit model of eye inflammation, a combination of apigenin and melatonin in tiny carrier particles lowered inflammation values 3. In mice whose ovaries had been damaged by a chemical, apigenin normalised the cycle and prevented shrinkage of the ovarian tissue 5.

These results from laboratory and animal studies do not yet indicate whether the same effect occurs in humans. For this, the quantities used in many cell experiments are much higher than what a person can absorb through food. Reviews describe anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in cell and animal models, i.e. protection against harmful oxygen compounds. However, the transfer to humans has not yet been established.

3. What Remains Unclear

The only controlled human study was conducted in Iran with 80 women and lasted twelve weeks. Whether the results also apply to other groups is open. How apigenin works over the long term, which quantities have an effect and how the substance is metabolised in the body has not been investigated in humans. Interactions with medications and allergic reactions have not yet been examined. Most studies are laboratory and animal studies using high quantities that cannot be easily transferred to humans. Whether apigenin has any effect in humans in cancer, Parkinson’s disease or vascular diseases is currently only a Hypothesis:. A single study reported mild complaints in two participants that led to discontinuation; how well the substance is tolerated over a longer period is still unknown.

4. What This Means in Everyday Life

Apigenin is found in everyday foods such as chamomile, parsley, celery, onions and tea. It is well established that people consume these foods; whether the individual substance in them has any effect is a different question. The only controlled human study to date used a chamomile extract, not pure apigenin. No practical advice can be derived from it. Those interested in the substance will find many laboratory findings in reviews. These show where research is heading, but not what happens in humans. What a study would need to clarify: larger groups, longer periods and clearly defined quantities to examine efficacy and tolerability in humans.

All details with study numbers and sources: detailed page on apigenin. For children: Apigenin for children.