Apigenin is a plant compound, a flavone, found mainly in chamomile, parsley and celery. It gets attention in longevity circles because in lab and mouse studies it blocks CD38, an enzyme that breaks down NAD+. It's also one of the main compounds in chamomile, which is why it's linked with sleep, though the human evidence on both fronts is thin.
Apigenin supplements are popular, but most of what's known comes from cell studies, mice and chamomile extracts rather than apigenin itself. This guide covers what apigenin is, which foods have the most, what the NAD+ and sleep research actually shows and what's known about safety.
Last reviewed: November 13, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Dried chamomile flowers and dried parsley are the richest known sources, with about 100 mg and 25 mg of apigenin compounds per 2 g serving of the dried herb.
- People in Europe and the U.S. typically get only about 1 to 9 mg of flavones a day from food.
- Apigenin blocked the NAD+-consuming enzyme CD38 and raised NAD+ levels in mice in a 2013 study. That hasn't been shown in people.
- Chamomile studies show mixed results for sleep, and they tested chamomile extracts, not apigenin alone.
- Only a small share of apigenin from food reaches the blood; less than 1% showed up in urine after a large parsley meal.
What is apigenin?
Apigenin is a flavone, a class of flavonoids, the protective compounds plants make. In plants, flavones help absorb UV light and defend against insects and fungi (Hostetler et al., 2017). In food, apigenin is mostly attached to sugars, as glycosides such as apiin in parsley, which affects how well it's absorbed.
Apigenin is a cousin of quercetin, another flavonoid that's plentiful in onions. Our guide to quercetin covers that one.
Which foods have the most apigenin?
Chamomile and parsley have the highest apigenin levels of any foods measured. Amounts vary widely between studies, varieties and growing methods, so treat these as ranges, not exact values:
| Food (serving) | Apigenin per serving | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dried chamomile flowers (2 g) | About 100 to 106 mg (as glycosides) | Measured in the dried herb; less ends up in a brewed cup |
| Dried parsley (2 g) | About 24 to 27 mg | A separate study found 5 g of dried parsley provided 84 mg |
| Fresh parsley (5 g) | Under 1 mg up to 74 mg | Very wide range between studies |
| Celery hearts (200 g) | About 38 mg | Celery leaves hold far more than stalks |
| Celery stalks (200 g) | About 3 to 22 mg | |
| Artichoke heads (200 g) | About 8 to 38 mg |
Sources for the table: Hostetler et al., 2017 (review of published food analyses); dried parsley 84 mg figure from Janssen et al., 1998.
For comparison, the same review lists typical flavone intakes of about 0.7 to 9.0 mg a day for adults in Europe and 1.1 to 1.6 mg a day for women in the U.S. Even a few grams of dried parsley or chamomile can contain more than a typical day's worth.
How much apigenin does the body absorb?
Not much. In a 2006 study, 11 healthy adults ate a large single serving of blanched parsley, 2 g per kilogram of body weight. Blood apigenin peaked about 7 hours later, with big differences between people, and only about 0.22% of the apigenin eaten showed up in urine over the next day (Meyer et al., 2006). The authors concluded that a small portion reaches the circulation.
The slow peak suggests apigenin from parsley is absorbed late in the gut, possibly in the colon, where gut bacteria also break much of it down (Hostetler et al., 2017).
Does apigenin raise NAD+?
In mice, yes; in people, it hasn't been tested. NAD+ is a coenzyme that cells need for energy metabolism and for the sirtuin enzymes, and its levels fall with age in many tissues. A 2016 mouse study found that the activity of CD38, an enzyme that consumes NAD+, rises with age and drives much of that decline (Camacho-Pereira et al., 2016).
Apigenin and quercetin both block CD38. In a 2013 study, apigenin raised NAD+ inside cultured cells, and giving apigenin to obese mice increased their NAD+ levels and improved several measures of blood sugar and fat handling (Escande et al., 2013). That's a plausible lead. It doesn't show that apigenin from food or supplements raises NAD+ in people, and none of the studies in this guide tested that.
For background on NAD+ and why it matters in aging research, see what is NAD+ and sirtuins explained.
Does apigenin help with sleep?
The sleep link comes from chamomile, and the evidence is mixed. Chamomile's main constituents include the flavonoids apigenin, quercetin and luteolin (McKay and Blumberg, 2006), so chamomile studies can't isolate what apigenin alone does.
- A 2011 pilot trial gave 34 adults with long-term trouble sleeping 270 mg of chamomile extract twice a day or a placebo for 28 days. There were no significant differences in sleep diary measures such as total sleep time or time to fall asleep (Zick et al., 2011).
- A 2019 review of 12 randomized trials found that chamomile improved sleep quality scores when results were pooled, but only one trial measured the severity of long-term sleeplessness, and it found no significant change (Hieu et al., 2019).
The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) sums it up as very little information on chamomile and serious sleep problems (NCCIH). A cup of chamomile tea as part of a wind-down routine is reasonable; expecting it to work like a sleep aid isn't backed by strong data. Our guides to sleep and aging and herbal teas and their calming effects cover the wider picture.
Is apigenin safe?
Chamomile tea and parsley are everyday foods, and NCCIH says chamomile is likely safe in the amounts found in teas and foods. Side effects are uncommon but can include nausea, dizziness and allergic reactions, which are more likely in people allergic to related plants such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or daisies. NCCIH also notes reported interactions with some drugs processed by the liver and with the blood thinner warfarin, possible estrogen-like effects, and little information on use during pregnancy or breastfeeding (NCCIH).
For concentrated apigenin, human data are limited. In one 1998 crossover study, 18 healthy volunteers ate 5 g of dried parsley a day, providing 84 mg of apigenin, for a week, with no measurable effect on blood clotting tests (Janssen et al., 1998). That's short and small. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking an apigenin supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or a blood thinner, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
What should you check on an apigenin supplement label?
- The amount of apigenin itself, not just "chamomile extract" or "parsley powder." Extracts vary widely in apigenin content.
- The form: apigenin as the free compound or as glycosides. Food forms are mostly glycosides.
- Other ingredients: some sleep blends combine apigenin with melatonin, magnesium or herbs, which changes what you're actually taking.
Our guide on how to read a Supplement Facts label explains each part of the panel. OPA Nutrition doesn't sell an apigenin supplement.
Where does apigenin fit in a healthy aging routine?
Apigenin is easy to get from food: parsley, celery, artichokes and chamomile tea. The CD38 and NAD+ research is interesting, but it's mouse work, and the sleep data come from chamomile, not apigenin. The habits with the strongest human evidence for healthy aging still come first, which our guides to healthspan vs lifespan and nutrition for healthy aging cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does apigenin really work?
It depends on the claim. Apigenin blocks CD38 and raised NAD+ in mice, and chamomile has mixed sleep results in people. No large human trial has tested apigenin alone for aging or sleep.
What food has the highest apigenin?
Dried chamomile flowers and dried parsley have the highest measured amounts. Among fresh foods, parsley ranks highest, followed by celery hearts and artichokes.
Does chamomile tea contain apigenin?
Yes. Apigenin compounds are among the main flavonoids in chamomile flowers, though how much ends up in the cup depends on the tea and how long it steeps.
Who shouldn't take apigenin?
Ask a doctor or pharmacist first if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, take a blood thinner or other prescription medication, or are allergic to ragweed, daisies or related plants.
Does apigenin raise NAD+ in people?
That hasn't been shown. The NAD+ results come from cell and mouse studies.
Can you take apigenin with magnesium?
Many sleep products combine them, but the sources in this guide didn't test the combination. Check with a pharmacist if you take other medications. Our guide to magnesium glycinate covers that mineral.
Sources
- Hostetler GL, Ralston RA, Schwartz SJ. Flavones: food sources, bioavailability, metabolism, and bioactivity. Adv Nutr. 2017;8(3):423-435. PubMed 28507008
- Janssen K, Mensink RP, Cox FJ, et al. Effects of the flavonoids quercetin and apigenin on hemostasis in healthy volunteers: results from an in vitro and a dietary supplement study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;67(2):255-262. PubMed 9459373
- Meyer H, Bolarinwa A, Wolfram G, Linseisen J. Bioavailability of apigenin from apiin-rich parsley in humans. Ann Nutr Metab. 2006;50(3):167-172. PubMed 16407641
- Camacho-Pereira J, Tarragó MG, Chini CCS, et al. CD38 dictates age-related NAD decline and mitochondrial dysfunction through an SIRT3-dependent mechanism. Cell Metab. 2016;23(6):1127-1139. PubMed 27304511
- Escande C, Nin V, Price NL, et al. Flavonoid apigenin is an inhibitor of the NAD+ase CD38 (full title on PubMed). Diabetes. 2013;62(4):1084-1093. PubMed 23172919
- McKay DL, Blumberg JB. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.). Phytother Res. 2006;20(7):519-530. PubMed 16628544
- Zick SM, Wright BD, Sen A, Arnedt JT. Preliminary examination of the efficacy and safety of a standardized chamomile extract for chronic primary insomnia: a randomized placebo-controlled pilot study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011;11:78. PubMed 21939549
- Hieu TH, Dibas M, Surya Dila KA, et al. Therapeutic efficacy and safety of chamomile for state anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, and sleep quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and quasi-randomized trials. Phytother Res. 2019;33(6):1604-1615. PubMed 31006899
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Chamomile. nccih.nih.gov
- Images: Richard REVEL (featured image), Boryslav Shoot and azra melek, via Pexels (free Pexels license).
Disclosure: OPA Nutrition sells supplements, including products mentioned in this article. This content is for education only and is not medical advice. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your healthcare provider before using any supplement, especially if you take medication or have a medical condition.
