In preclinical (animal and cell) studies, apigenin has shown effects on anxiety and brain cell activity.[1][2][3][4] In a mouse study, doses of 3–10 mg/kg of body weight reduced anxiety without causing sedation.[2] Neuroprotective effects, caused by an increased mitochondrial capacity, have also been observed in animal studies at concentrations of 1–33 micromolar.[4][1]
Few clinical studies show similar effects in humans. Two of the most promising studies examined apigenin as a constituent of chamomile (Matricaria recutita) for anxiety and migraine. When participants with codiagnoses of anxiety and depression were given 200–1,000 mg of chamomile extract per day for 8 weeks (standardized to 1.2% apigenin), the participants reported improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms.[5] In a similar crossover trial, participants with migraine experienced a reduction in pain, nausea, vomiting, and light/noise sensitivity 30 minutes after application of a chamomile oleogel (0.233 mg of apigenin per gram).[6]