Does apigenin affect neurologic health?

    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    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]

    References

    1. ^Jameie SB, Pirasteh A, Naseri A, Jameie MS, Farhadi M, Babaee JF, Elyasi Lβ-Amyloid Formation, Memory, and Learning Decline Following Long-term Ovariectomy and Its Inhibition by Systemic Administration of Apigenin and β-Estradiol.Basic Clin Neurosci.(2021)
    2. ^Viola H, Wasowski C, Levi de Stein M, Wolfman C, Silveira R, Dajas F, Medina JH, Paladini ACApigenin, a component of Matricaria recutita flowers, is a central benzodiazepine receptors-ligand with anxiolytic effects.Planta Med.(1995-Jun)
    3. ^Dourado NS, Souza CDS, de Almeida MMA, Bispo da Silva A, Dos Santos BL, Silva VDA, De Assis AM, da Silva JS, Souza DO, Costa MFD, Butt AM, Costa SLNeuroimmunomodulatory and Neuroprotective Effects of the Flavonoid Apigenin in Models of Neuroinflammation Associated With Alzheimer's Disease.Front Aging Neurosci.(2020)
    4. ^Silva B, Oliveira PJ, Dias A, Malva JOQuercetin, kaempferol and biapigenin from Hypericum perforatum are neuroprotective against excitotoxic insults.Neurotox Res.(2008)
    5. ^Amsterdam JD, Shults J, Soeller I, Mao JJ, Rockwell K, Newberg ABChamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious, depressed humans: an exploratory study.Altern Ther Health Med.(2012)
    6. ^Gaur K, Siddique YHEffect of apigenin on neurodegenerative diseases.CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets.(2023-Apr-06)