What Is Apigenin?
In the era of ever-increasing screen time and pockets perpetually buzzing with notifications, apigenin can help your brain turn down the white noise at the end of the day and settle into a calm, restful state. Found in plants like chamomile and parsley, apigenin has been widely studied for its therapeutic properties, and research suggests the compound has many benefits, including:
- Lowering cortisol levels and reducing stress
- Helping you fall asleep faster
- Allowing you to stay asleep longer
- Improving overall cognitive function
Incorporating apigenin into your daily routine can help ensure you’re properly recharging every night and ready to crush tomorrow, whether that means giving everything you’ve got to your morning workout or walking into your first meeting of the day feeling calm, clear-headed, and confident. Quality sleep is a core pillar of overall health, and apigenin is a natural compound that can help you make sure you’re getting the rest that you need.
The Science Behind Apigenin
Apigenin is part of a family of compounds found in plants called flavonoids, which have exhibited anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimutagenic effects in studies. Apigenin is one of the most-studied flavonoids, and an overview of the research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2019 suggests that it may improve cognitive function and reduce inflammation, anxiety, and depression.
A study published in The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology also showed a reduction of cortisol production in human adrenal cells by 47.5% when exposed to apigenin, suggesting that the compound can be helpful in reducing stress as well. Why does that matter? Cortisol is the primary stress hormone that our bodies produce when our brain perceives a threat worthy of a fight-or-flight response, flooding the brain with helpful glucose while suppressing our appetite, immune system and other internal systems until the danger has passed. Cortisol came in handy for our ancestors whenever they stumbled out of their caves to find a saber-toothed tiger staring back at them, but in modern life cortisol can often be released by daily stressors that are decidedly less threatening. When cortisol levels remain high for too long, we can experience anxiety, depression, insomnia, memory loss, digestive problems, and more.
Apigenin for Sleep
Apigenin is naturally found in chamomile, which is one of the world’s oldest herbal medicines, used since ancient times for many purposes including as a sleep aid. More recently, researchers have studied chamomile and found that its sleep-enhancing properties can be attributed to its bounty of apigenin.
Apigenin activates chloride ion channels, calming neuronal activity in the forebrain and allowing the body to enter a more restful state. In a study of more than 1,900 adults in Italy published in the journal Nutrients, researchers observed an association between apigenin consumption and higher sleep quality, giving scientific backing to what humans have known anecdotally for centuries.
Why is a full night’s rest so important, anyway? Because sleep is the essential time for your body to repair cells and tissue, to produce hormones that help your body fight off infections and even to drain toxins from your brain. In other words, even if you eat well and exercise consistently, without adequate sleep you’ll never reach your peak physical and mental performance.
Apigenin for Cognition
In an overview of apigenin research, studies suggest that the compound also has neuroprotective and cognition-enhancing properties. Researchers have observed improvements in memory and learning deficits in mice with Alzheimer’s disease that were exposed to apigenin, which scavenges free radicals, as well as improved spatial learning and memory in mice with amnesia. A study published in Scientific Reports in 2016 examining the effects of apigenin in an Alzheimer’s stem cell model suggests that the compound’s broad neuroprotective effects could help mediate the disease’s progression in humans as well.
Incorporating Apigenin into Your Daily Routine
Working Momentous Apigenin into your daily life is simple: Just take one 50mg capsule 30 to 60 minutes before going to sleep. Most people experience the benefits within two to four days of consistent use, but some may require more time to notice the effects. You should not feel groggy the next day, so feel free to take Apigenin at night no matter what you’ve got planned for tomorrow.
Lower Stress and Prioritize Sleep with Apigenin
Whether you’re trying to set a new PR at the gym or just want to stay clear and focused throughout the work day, the importance of more than seven hours of quality sleep can’t be overstated. Apigenin can help you recharge by allowing you to reduce stress, fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and experience better cognitive function the next day. This natural compound is not habit-forming and can be combined with other sleep supplements like Magnesium Threonate and L-Theanine for even greater benefits.
