Apigenin is a powerful natural bioflavonoid that has become popular in recent times due to a modern understanding of its potential as a novel therapeutic agent. The most abundant source of apigenin is chamomile, a plant with a long history of use as a medicine, specifically as one with calmative and anxiolytic properties. A rich supply of apigenin helps explain in part why chamomile has provided its therapeutic benefit to people for thousands of years.Calm and sleep supportApigenin binds to GABA-A receptors in the brain, the same receptors that regulate calm and sleep onset. Clinical studies of chamomile extracts have demonstrated improvements in sleep quality, anxiety, and relaxation without the sedation or dependence associated with pharmaceutical sleep aids. This is the most researched mechanism in apigenin.Cellular NAD+ supportNAD+ is a molecule that your cells depend on to produce energy and carry out repair. An enzyme called CD38 becomes more active with age and is a primary driver of NAD+ decline. Preclinical research shows that apigenin inhibits CD38 activity, which helps preserve intracellular NAD+ levels. This mechanism is well established in laboratory models and is an active area of human research.Inflammation and antioxidant pathwaysApigenin has been shown in research models to modulate NF-kB and Nrf2, two key regulators of the inflammatory and antioxidant response.
