Chamomile is famous for its health benefits. One of these is apigenin supplement, an important nutrient.
What you will learn
What Is Apigenin? A miracle plant?
Apigenin is a naturally occurring antioxidant molecule found in plants. It’s found in parsley, onions, oranges, tea, chamomile, wheat sprouts, and various spices, among other things. It is a yellow crystalline that is commonly used to colour clothing, aside from its biological benefits.
Apigenin is a chemical compound with the formula C15H10O5. Its molecular structure appears in the figure below:
One of the polyphenolic compounds in plants is called Apigenin.
Researchers have shown interest in apigenin because it has a variety of beneficial bioactivities and low toxicity.Its effects on animals have been carefully investigated, however there are few human studies on the chemical. Despite this, preliminary study on apigenin has revealed that it may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cancer-fighting properties.
Where is it found?
It is most known for its association with chamomile, as it is the plant’s most popular use.
Apigenin can be found in plant-based beverages, grapefruit, oranges and citrus fruits. Apigenin can also be found in vegetable sources such as wheat sprouts, tea, onions, and parsley.
Many plant-based sources provide apigenin, including all types of vegetarian and fruitarian diets.
Apigenin in Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea contains a compound called apigenin. The question that arises is how much apigenin can be considered a lot and some of the samples of the tea could have less than 0.8% with other samples containing up to 1.2%.
Benefits of Apigenin Supplement
Apigenin benefits various body organs, including the brain, heart, and skin.
It is important to note that not much research has been done on the effects of apigenin, but it may be possible to use animal models to test the substance’s effect.
Some of those benefits have been explained below:
The Positive Effects of Antioxidants
Some of the benefits apigenin offer are its antioxidant effects. These antioxidants eliminate free radicals and other destructive compounds in your body and can help reduce allergy symptoms.
Studies have noted that apigenin has antioxidant effects, the most significant of which is related to immunity.
Apigenin has important antioxidant properties, which can be used as an anti-aging treatment and for healthy skin. It also has the ability to promote skin cell growth and fights acne.
Apigenin sleep benefits
Insomnia can have a significant impact on your health and well-being. The ability of chamomile flower extract, a plant high in apigenin, to improve sleep in participants with insomnia not caused by medication or medical conditions has been studied.
Anxiety
One of the most interesting things about apigenin is how it can cross the blood-brain barrier, allowing it to affect your central nervous system.
Raw apigenin, extracted from chamomile, has a potent calming effect and can be used to relieve stress.
Some researchers are of the opinion that Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be resolved by chamomile supplements.
A clinical trial for the treatment of GAD was conducted, according to a 2016 research article. Three doses of 500 mg chamomile extract were given to the participants. The trial was divided into two phases: the open-label phase, which included 179 people, and the double-blind phase, which included 93 participants.
Participants who were given chamomile extract reported much lower anxiety levels than those who were given a placebo. Furthermore, the chamomile-extract improved the arterial blood pressure of participants and also reduced their body weight.
A 2012 study explored chamomile-extract with 1.2% apigenin and the effect of symptoms of anxiety among those with comorbidities such as a history of depression
The study found that the score for the Human Depression Rating Scale was significantly lower among participants who were given chamomile-extract.
The Importance of NAD+
The latest anti-aging research has established Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) as fundamental in the revolutionary anti-aging efforts of our times. Our body’s stores of NAD+ decline with age, and this can be attributed to the activity of an enzyme called CD38.
Researchers have shown that antigenin has the ability to inhibit the function of CD38. Animal studies have found that the inhibiting activity of antigenin is similar to human studies.
This is important because CD38 inhibits NAD+, which is a substance involved in promoting cellular health. By slowing down the decline of this substance, we can keep our cells, and thus bodies, young.
Blood Sugar Regulation
Antigenin also helps regulate blood sugar in the body, which can be impaired by factors such as age and other ailments.
Antigenin can help lower your blood sugar by increasing the amount of insulin your body releases.
A study done in 2013 indicated that antigenin, a pioneering treatment for diabetes, could prevent the health complications that arise due to it. Antigenin helps increase nitric oxide availability to cells belonging to vascular systems’ walls. This acts as a protective layer from diabetes.
Male Fertility and Testosterone
The hormone testosterone plays a vital role in male fertility. The production and development of sperm is largely dependent upon it. With aging, human testosterone levels tend to decrease and can cause problems such as muscle mass reduction, erectile dysfunction, fatigue among other issues.
Apigenin and other flavonoids can delay aging-induced decrease in testosterone. Additionally, apigenin is able to raise production of testosterone in the body.
Apigenin and Cancer
Apigenin is a naturally-occurring plant compound.
Sometimes cancer cells form metastasized tumors and chemotherapy removes them but sometimes the cancer cells develop resistance to treatments.
New treatments are being explored including apigenin. Apigenin has antimicrobial properties as well as anti-carcinogenic properties and holds promise for the treatment of cancer, especially breast cancer, prostate cancer and others.
The anti-cancer potential of apigenin is still being researched, with some hypothesizing that it may trigger cell death in cancer cells and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Apigenin is difficult to have effect on cancer cells by itself, but it could be useful when used with chemotherapy.
Other Benefits
The other potential benefits of apigenin include the following:
- Increase brain function
- Anti-inflammatory benefits
- There are some cardiovascular advantages to taking the drug
The best Apigenin supplement – Liposomal Apigenin
When you’re looking for apigenin, there are plenty of options to choose from. Liposome-based supplements are the best because they provide better absorption rates and people tend to absorb bioavailable substances better.
Liposomes enclose apigenin, protecting it from the stomach acid. This allows for it to reach desired parts of the body and work at an optimal level.
By preserving apigenin until it reaches the bloodstream and is delivered to the cells, liposomes solve the bioavailability problem. In other words, you can get more benefit from the same amount of apigenin.
Liposomal apigenin supplements are therefore superior to other supplement options.
How much apigenin supplement should you take? Apigenin 50 mg
Even at large doses, apigenin treatment is said to be safe. Although no toxicity has been documented, a high dose may increase your chances of experiencing negative effects .
There are no approved dosages for apigenin because it is a supplement. Various doses were employed in the research, depending on the condition being investigated.
The most frequent form of apigenin is a 50 mg tablet.
What foods contain apigenin?
If you decide to try apigenin to enhance your health, make sure to talk to your doctor first.
Apigenin is found throughout the plant kingdom. It can be found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The most popular sources are dried parsley and chamomile, both of which are high in apigenin .
Apigenin levels have been found in the following foods:
- Beer and wine
- Celery
- Cilantro
- Celeriac
- Chamomile tea
- Grapefruit
- Oregano
- Oranges
- Onions
- Parsley
- Sorghum
- Wheat sprouts
What are the Apigenin Side Effects & Toxicity?
Keep in mind that the safety profile of apigenin is somewhat unknown, given the absence of well-designed clinical research. The list of probable side effects provided below is not exhaustive; you should speak with your doctor about other possible side effects based on your health status and any drug or supplement interactions.
Adverse effects were few and modest in clinical trials. They included digestive issues (chamomile extract taken orally) and skin responses (topical chamomile gel). Because the trials did not employ pure apigenin, any other chamomile chemicals could have caused these effects.
Apigenin possesses estrogenic action, which is important. Apigenin should be avoided by women having a history of estrogen-responsive malignancies or who are taking hormone replacement treatment. They should also consult their doctors before taking this flavonoid.
While there have been no human toxicity studies, high apigenin doses (100mg/kg) caused liver damage in rats.
