Apigenin Capsules, graded Emerging-evidence on Magellan — human pharmacokinetic studies show the free aglycone is poorly absorbed—only about 0.5% of an oral dose is recovered in urine as metabolites—whereas the glycoside forms found in chamomile are absorbed far better. Magellan links 18 peer-reviewed citations for Apigenin Capsules.
Source: Aging 2020, PMID 32507768 ↗ · Nutraceuticals & Cellular Energizers · How Magellan grades evidence · Study write-up · evidence confidence: medium
Apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone) is a naturally occurring flavone abundant in chamomile, parsley, celery, and other plants. It is a pharmacological inhibitor of CD38, the principal NAD+-consuming (NADase) enzyme in mammalian tissues, and this activity underlies its ability to raise intracellular NAD+ levels. By preserving NAD+, apigenin supports the activity of NAD+-dependent sirtuins such as SIRT1 and the mitochondrial deacetylase SIRT3. It also modulates additional targets, including GABA-A receptors and NF-kappaB-driven inflammatory pathways. Human pharmacokinetic studies show the free aglycone is poorly absorbed—only about 0.5% of an oral dose is recovered in urine as metabolites—whereas the glycoside forms found in chamomile are absorbed far better.
CD38 activity rises with age and drives the tissue decline of NAD+ that is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and cellular senescence, so inhibiting CD38 is a plausible strategy to preserve NAD+ during aging. In animal and cell studies, apigenin lowers CD38 activity, raises the NAD+/NADH ratio, restores SIRT3-dependent mitochondrial antioxidant defenses, and improves metabolic, vascular, senescence, and neuroinflammatory endpoints. Human data, however, come largely from chamomile extracts standardized to apigenin: a randomized trial in mild-to-moderate generalized anxiety disorder found chamomile modestly outperformed placebo, but such extracts deliver far less apigenin than dedicated capsules, and no published trial has tested isolated apigenin at typical supplement doses for sleep, NAD+, or aging outcomes. Whether apigenin supplements raise NAD+ or slow aging in people remains unproven; most mechanistic evidence is preclinical. This evidence describes the compound apigenin and the CD38/NAD+ mechanism itself, not this specific commercial product.
Peer-reviewed studies on the active compound — citations link to PubMed.
“CD38 inhibition by apigenin restored the intracellular NAD ratio and Sirt3 activity”
“apigenin increases NAD+ levels by inhibiting CD38”
“apigenin, a flavonoid with CD38 inhibitory activity, increased NAD level and suppressed neuroinflammation”
“Our findings suggest that apigenin is a promising phytochemical for reducing the impact of senescent cells in age-related lung diseases such as COPD.”
“Here we demonstrate that expression and activity of the NADase CD38 increase with aging and that CD38 is required for the age-related NAD decline and mitochondrial dysfunction via a pathway mediated at least in part by regulation of SIRT3 activity.”
“These M1-like macrophages express high levels of the NAD-consuming enzyme CD38 and have enhanced CD38-dependent NADase activity, thereby reducing tissue NAD levels.”
Research describes the active mechanism and is not a claim about this specific product.
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Yes — its active compound is linked to 18 peer-reviewed studies, summarized and cited above.
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