Description
Important Benefits of Apigenin
Apigenin is known to offer a range of health benefits, from supporting heart and brain health to promoting healthier skin. Studies highlight the potential mechanisms and benefits of this plant nutrient.
1. Works as an Antioxidant
Flavonoids are widely known for their antioxidant properties, and a number of studies show that Apigenin, in particular, has significant antioxidant effects. It’s also an effective anti-inflammatory agent compared to other flavonoids.
Because of its antioxidant effects, the flavone is used to promote healthy paging and is utilised to boost skin health. It is even used to fight acne and promote skin cell growth.
2. Has Antimicrobial Effects
Reports suggest that Apigenin has “reverse antibiotic” activities against some bacteria, which means that it may be active against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and help reverse bacterial resistance. Researchers believe that the phytonutrient could be a candidate as a new antibiotic or as a dietary supplement to enhance the performance of antibiotics.
The nutrient also has proved to inhibit multiple viruses, including herpes; hepatitis C; influenza; hand, foot and mouth disease; and African swine fever.
3. Reduces Pain
Because of its anti-inflammatory effects, Apigenin is able to reduce pain and discomfort related to inflammatory issues. This includes pain from digestive problems, infections, immune responses and migraine pain.
The flavonoid has been shown to decrease the release of cytokines, which can overproduce and lead to disease.
4. Supports Heart Health
Apigenin supports cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and inflammation.
One study found that Apigenin protects against heart attack by reducing oedema, cell death and oxidative stress.
5. Boosts Brain Function
Apigenin has neuroprotective effects.
Research published in Neural Regeneration Research found that apigenin has cognition-enhancing effects because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is able to improve memory and learning deficits, and it suppresses inflammatory mediators.
6. Eases Anxiety and Depression
This flavone is known for its relaxing and sedative effects. It has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, helping prevent the body’s response to chronic stress.
Apigenin also has been shown to improve depression.
7. Fights Diabetes
Studies suggest that Apigenin improves insulin resistance and can be helpful for people with diabetes. One report found that the flavone improved impaired glucose tolerance and significantly decreased insulin resistance.
8. Works as an Anticancer Agent
Several experimental and biological studies suggest that Apigenin works as an anticancer agent. A report published in Phototherapy Research found that the flavonoid exhibits cell growth arrest and apoptosis in many types of tumors, including lung, liver, colon, prostate, pancreatic, breast, skin, blood and cervical.
Anticancer research further explores how apigenin plays a role in several cancer signalling pathways and should generate interest as a possible chemotherapeutic modality due to its low toxicity and effects on normal versus cancerous cells.
Anti-ageing Proteins
They are called SIRT and they are responsible for the production of sirtuins, fundamental proteins that allow the cell to live longer. Scientists have begun to understand how to stimulate them pharmacologically but also with natural molecules.
When we are too stressed, it is often necessary to stop, take a break and regain energy. This rule applies not only to us, but also to our cells.
If they are subjected to stress our cells rest and renovate themselves. Natural evolution has selected precise mechanisms that allow cells to enter a state of “stand-by”: a recovery system that prolongs the life of the cell and also that of our organism. But how does this work?
Scientists have identified a family of genes that play a fundamental role in this system of recovery and are therefore considered the most important longevity genes. They are called SIRT genes and there are seven of them within human cells.
These seven genes are responsible for the production of sirtuins, proteins essential for the survival of all living cells and organisms. They are activated in response to threats or conditions of metabolic stress: cold, food shortages and imminent danger. In all these cases, sirtuins reduce the cell’s reproduction activity to concentrate all resources on survival.
What does all this have to do with longevity? Several studies have shown how the activity of sirtuins can slow down the ageing process and can reduce the risk of related diseases, such as cancer, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.
If sirtuin activity is compromised, the risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes increases, and we become more susceptible to the negative effects of high-fat diets.
For example, it has been observed that if sirtuin activity is compromised, not only the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes increase, but also the other negative effects of high-fat dietary regimens are exacerbated.
In addition, scientists have highlighted how sirtuin activity is fundamental for the maintenance of cardiac health. Sirtuins also maintain proper functioning of the circadian rhythm, also known as the sleep-wake cycle, which is highly affected by ageing. These are some of the reasons for which sirtuins have been defined as longevity proteins.
Several natural molecules have been identified which are able to activate sirtuins.
Natural molecules that has recently attracted the attention of researchers are:
NMN (Nicotinamide mononucleotide),
Fucoidan – Brown Algae Extract,
Sulforaphane,
Apigenin
When these enter our cells, they turns into a molecule called NAD (nicotinamide adenin dinucleotide), which is essential for the activity of more than 500 enzymes, including sirtuins.
As we age, NAD levels diminish, which results in decreased functioning of sirtuins and many other enzymes. It has been shown, however, that dietary supplementation with the above mentioned molecules regenerates physiological NAD levels and activates sirtuins.
Sirtuin-activating compounds (STAC) are chemical compounds having an effect on sirtuins, a group of enzymes that use NAD+ to remove acetyl groups from proteins. They are caloric restriction mimetic compounds that may be helpful in treating various age related diseases.
Autophagy is an evolutionary self-preservation mechanism that allows the body to remove dysfunctional cells and recycle some of them for cell repair and irrigation. In other words, Autophagy is a method of the body that wipes out damaged cells to regenerate newer and healthier cells. The main benefit of Autophagy is anti-ageing. The cellular level removes toxic proteins, recycling residual protein, provides energy, and promotes healthy cell regeneration.
