Are you considering adding apigenin supplements to your daily health routine? Apigenin is a naturally occurring flavonoid found in many plants, and taking apigenin supplements could deliver some major health benefits.
It is a flavonoid in many fruits, vegetables, and herbs, such as parsley, celery, chamomile, and basil. It is known for its antioxidant properties that help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. However, as with any supplement, there are also risks to consider when using it.
In this article, we’ll explore what apigenin is and dive into the potential benefits and risks of supplementation so that you can make an informed decision about whether taking these tablets or capsules should be part of your daily diet.
How Does Apigenin Work?
Apigenin is known to act as a powerful antioxidant. It is thought to work by scavenging free radicals that can damage cells and molecules in the body, leading to diseases like cancer.
It may also reduce inflammation and help boost your immune system. It has also been studied for its effects on sleep, testosterone levels, and cancer prevention.
What are the Benefits of Apigenin Supplements
Since apigenin is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it has the potential to provide a range of health benefits when taken as a supplement. Let’s dive into its common health benefits.
1. Apigenin for Testosterone
Male fertility relies heavily on the hormone testosterone. It’s essential for male maturation and sperm production. Decreased testosterone levels are associated with aging and have been linked to a host of negative health outcomes, including loss of energy, libido, and muscle mass.
Apigenin and other flavonoids have been found to prevent the decline in testosterone levels that occurs with male aging. It could even cause the testicles to create even more testosterone. Apigenin has interesting interactions with testosterone in both sexes. It can slow the decline in testosterone levels, especially in men, as they age.
Animal studies show that apigenin can stimulate testosterone production and reduce the risk of prostate cancer. [1]
2. Apigenin for Sleep
Insomnia may have a significant impact on your health and well-being. Studies have shown that apigenin-rich chamomile flower extract can help people with insomnia not related to a medical condition or medicine fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.
Spigenin promotes sleep by interacting with benzodiazepine receptors, which can lead to sedation and muscular relaxation. It also reverses the rise in corticosteroid hormones resulting from stress, reducing stress-induced changes in the brain. Although chamomile can’t significantly enhance sleep quality, it can lead to better daytime performance.
More study is suggested on the effects of higher dosages of flavone, which may have anti-anxiety and sedative properties.
3. Apigenin for Blood Sugar
Apigenin’s ability to stimulate insulin production and support healthy blood sugar levels has been linked to its efficacy in treating diabetes and hyperglycemia and high blood sugar levels. It also has the potential to control diabetes, as well as disease-induced thyroid dysfunction and lipid peroxidation. Apigenin has shown promise in animal studies for enhancing insulin secretion, which might help people better control their blood sugar levels. [2]
The arterial wall cells that apiginin affects can produce more nitric oxide (NO) when exposed to the compound. As a result, this may help prevent diabetes-related damage to blood vessel walls. [3]
4. Apigenin for Anxiety
Apigenin’s many sleep-friendly qualities have also made it a promising research subject for the treatment of anxiety. Apigenin is capable of diffusing through the blood-brain barrier, which divides the circulatory system from the nervous system.
Because of this, it might have an effect on your brain and spinal cord. While the exact effects of apigenin have yet to be determined, a calming effect has been shown in tests with chamomile extract (which contains 1% apigenin by volume). [4]
Some research suggests that using chamomile supplements might help alleviate the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
5. Apigenin for Cancer
The uncontrolled growth of cells is what ultimately leads to the development of cancer. Chemotherapy is now the gold standard for cancer treatment, although it can cause severe side effects and medication resistance. To combat diseases like prostate cancer, breast cancer, and other forms of carcinoma, scientists have turned to alternative molecular therapies, such as flavonoids like apigenin.
Apigenin, according to researchers, prevents cancer from spreading by inducing cancer cell death (apoptosis). It contains anti-inflammatory qualities and may also help activate the immune system, which is crucial in the battle against cancer cells.
The anti-cancer effects of apigenin at the levels typically administered to people are expected to be minimal, at best. Furthermore, it and other flavonoids have been investigated as potential chemopreventative agents for breast cancer, while more research is needed to understand their effects fully. If apigenin is ultimately recommended, researchers will likely advise using it with chemotherapy treatments. [5]
6. Apigenin for Pain Management and Inflammation
Like many other flavonoids, Apigenin has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and stop the production of many anti-inflammatory factors, among other anti-inflammatory properties. Evidence suggests that it can help relieve pain associated with inflammation by lowering levels of the cytokine interleukin. [6]
Apigenin’s anti-inflammatory properties allow it to alleviate pain and suffering associated with inflammatory problems, such as intestinal pain, infection pain, immune reaction pain, and migraine pain.
Apigenin Supplement Dosage
Even at very high doses, treatment with apigenin has been reported to be safe. There have been no reports of toxicity. However, large doses may increase the likelihood of adverse effects.
Apigenin is a dietary supplement, so there are no guidelines for how much should be taken. Different dosages have been utilized in the trials since each is specific to the studied disease.
Apigenin typically comes in 50 mg capsule form. Researchers have come up with the following dose recommendations:
| Apigenin Recommended Dosage | Condition/ Treatment |
| 5mg of apigenin or 500mg of chamomile tea | Anxiety |
| 20 to 40 mg or higher doses | Regulating testosterone |
| 10-40 mg per kg of weight | Regulating blood sugar |
| 50 mg | Helping with sleep |
If you’re considering using apigenin to enhance your health, it’s important to discuss your plans with your doctor first.
Apigenin Supplement Side Effects: Is Apigenin Safe?
Apigenin is a component of a group of plants known collectively as falvaonise. These are often harmless. However, apigenin raises some special safety concerns.
If you take this without food, you may have some stomach discomfort or nausea. Apigenin is a sedative, so too much of it might cause you to feel sleepy or relax your muscles too much. While this effect may be desirable for sleep, it is important to use the correct dosage.
Furthermore, you may discover unusual interactions if you take any prescription drugs while taking apigenin because it interacts with the brain.
Apigenin can severely interact with other medications, including cyclosporine, warfarin, and some chemotherapy medicines. If you are already on prescription drugs, you should see your healthcare provider before beginning to take apigenin supplements.
Bottom Line: Apigenin Supplements Benefits & Risks
Apigenin is a flavonoid in many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and grains. It’s known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has been studied for its effects on anxiety, testosterone levels, sleep quality, blood sugar regulation, and cancer.
While apigenin boasts many potential health benefits, it’s also important to be aware of possible side effects.
As always, consult your physician before taking any new supplements, especially if you have a medical condition or are pregnant or nursing. With their guidance, you can determine if apigenin is right for you and how best to incorporate it into your healthy lifestyle.
Disclaimer: This article is only a guide. It does not substitute the advice given by your healthcare professional. Before making any health-related decision, consult your healthcare professional.
Editorial References And Fact-Checking
- Li W, Pandey AK, Yin X, Chen JJ, Stocco DM, Grammas P, Wang X. Effects of apigenin on steroidogenesis and steroidogenic acute regulatory gene expression in mouse Leydig cells. J Nutr Biochem. 2011 Mar;22(3):212-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2010.01.004. PMID: 20537519; PMCID: PMC2939222.
- Panda S, Kar A. Apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone) regulates hyperglycaemia, thyroid dysfunction and lipid peroxidation in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2007 Nov;59(11):1543-8. doi: 10.1211/jpp.59.11.0012. PMID: 17976266.
- Ren B, Qin W, Wu F, Wang S, Pan C, Wang L, Zeng B, Ma S, Liang J. Apigenin and naringenin regulate glucose and lipid metabolism, and ameliorate vascular dysfunction in type 2 diabetic rats. Eur J Pharmacol. 2016 Feb 15;773:13-23. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.01.002. Epub 2016 Jan 20. PMID: 26801071.
- Salehi B, Venditti A, Sharifi-Rad M, Kręgiel D, Sharifi-Rad J, Durazzo A, Lucarini M, Santini A, Souto EB, Novellino E, Antolak H, Azzini E, Setzer WN, Martins N. The Therapeutic Potential of Apigenin. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Mar 15;20(6):1305. doi: 10.3390/ijms20061305. PMID: 30875872; PMCID: PMC6472148.
- Yan X, Qi M, Li P, Zhan Y, Shao H. Apigenin in cancer therapy: anti-cancer effects and mechanisms of action. Cell Biosci. 2017 Oct 5;7:50. doi: 10.1186/s13578-017-0179-x. PMID: 29034071; PMCID: PMC5629766.
- Lee JH, Zhou HY, Cho SY, Kim YS, Lee YS, Jeong CS. Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of apigenin: inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 expression, adhesion of monocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and expression of cellular adhesion molecules. Arch Pharm Res. 2007 Oct;30(10):1318-27. doi: 10.1007/BF02980273. PMID: 18038911.
