Does apigenin affect hormone health?

Apigenin may also be able to exert positive physiologic responses by reducing cortisol, the stress hormone. When human adrenocortical cells (in vitro) were exposed to a range of 12.5–100 μM flavonoid mixtures that included apigenin as a component, cortisol production decreased by up to 47.3% compared to control cells.^[1][2]

In mice, apigenin extracted from the plant Cephalotaxus sinensis of the Plum Yew family showed some anti-diabetic properties by increasing physiologic response to insulin.^[3] These results have not yet been replicated in humans, though in a study that gave participants a black pepper beverage that contained apigenin and a wheat bread challenge meal, blood glucose and insulin were no different from the control beverage group.^[4]

Reproductive hormones such as testosterone and estrogen may also be affected by apigenin. In preclinical studies, apigenin modified enzyme receptors and activity in a way that suggests it could potentially affect testosterone activity, even at relatively low (5–10 μM) amounts.^[5][6]

At 20 μM, breast cancer cells exposed to apigenin for 72 hours showed inhibited proliferation through control of estrogen receptors.^[7] Similarly, when ovarian cells were exposed to apigenin (100 nM for 48 hours) researchers observed an inhibition of aromatase activity, which is thought to be a possible mechanism in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.^[8] It is still unclear, however, how these effects would translate into an oral dose for human consumption.