Tier 4 — mechanistic

Pharmacological profile of apigenin, a flavonoid isolated from Matricaria chamomilla

R. Avallone, P. Zanoli, G. Puia, M. Kleinschnitz, P. Schreier, M. Baraldi
Biochemical Pharmacology 2000 59(11):1387-1394

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 10751547
DOI
10.1016/S0006-2952(00)00264-1
Funding
Not reported in the indexed record reviewed.
Competing interests
Not reported in the indexed record reviewed.

Study snapshot

DesignPreclinical receptor-binding, electrophysiology and animal behavioral pharmacology study
ModelReceptor/electrophysiology systems and rats
SampleExact total sample size was not reported in the PubMed abstract.
InterventionIsolated apigenin characterized after isolation from Matricaria chamomilla
DurationAcute preclinical experiments
EndpointsBenzodiazepine-receptor binding; GABA-activated chloride currents; Locomotor activity; Anxiolytic-like behavior; Muscle relaxation; Anticonvulsant activity

What the study showed, in plain terms

This study re-examined apigenin's proposed sedative and anxiolytic pharmacology using receptor, electrophysiology and animal experiments.

Key findings

Apigenin interacted with benzodiazepine-related pharmacology but did not behave like a simple positive GABA-A modulator. The animal experiments supported locomotor-depressant effects while failing to reproduce a clear benzodiazepine-like anxiolytic, anticonvulsant or muscle-relaxant profile.

What this study can and cannot tell us

These are preclinical experiments and cannot determine clinical effects at oral supplement doses. The results also illustrate that apigenin's GABA-related mechanism is more complex than describing it as a straightforward GABA agonist.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology