Chamomile
Chamomile, a medicinal herb belonging to the Asteraceae/Compositae family, is known for its ancient origins and healing properties. It exists mainly in two varieties: German Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).
Chamomile has traditionally been used for medicinal purposes, and research has provided evidence-based information on its bioactivity. The main active compounds in chamomile flowers are phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids like apigenin, quercetin, patuletin, luteolin, and their glucosides. This post will have a closer look at it Apigenin benefits.
The essential oil from chamomile flowers contains terpenoids such as α-bisabolol, its oxides, and azulenes, including chamazulene. Chamomile exhibits moderate antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, along with significant in vitro antiplatelet effects. Animal studies suggest that chamomile has potent anti-inflammatory properties, potential antimutagenic and cholesterol-lowering effects, as well as antispasmodic and anxiolytic benefits.
Key Takeaways
Chamomile tea contains apigenin, a flavonoid with various health benefits.
- Apigenin in chamomile tea may help with anti-aging, skin health, and inflammation.
- Chamomile has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- It can influence gene expression through DNA methylation and histone modifications.
- Other sources of apigenin include parsley, celery, artichokes, oregano, onions, and oranges.
- Maternal chamomile intake could impact offspring’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis through epigenetic mechanisms.
- Further research, including clinical studies, is needed to fully understand chamomile tea’s impact on human health.
Major Polyphenolic Compounds in Chamomile Extract
(µg/100 µg extract)
| Compounds | Value |
|---|---|
| Chlorogenic Acid | 8.180 |
| Caffeic Acid | 1.296 |
| Catechin | 5.179 |
| Apigenin Glucoside | 34.103 |
| Rutin | 6.013 |
| Cinaroside | 2.659 |
| Luteolin | 5.113 |
| Apigenin | 1.388 |
| – | – |
(from Danciu 2018)
Among its many forms, its most common is a herbal tea made from the dried flower heads of the plant, with over a million cups consumed daily.
Apigenin, Chamomile’s Active Compound
What is Apigenin?
Apigenin is the primary active compound found in chamomile tea. It’s a natural flavonoid that gives chamomile its signature sweet, flowery flavor.
Apigenin can inhibit DNMT activity, leading to DNA hypomethylation and gene activation. It also reduces HDAC expression, causing increased histone acetylation and relaxed chromatin. Additionally, apigenin modulates miRNA profiles associated with cell cycle, apoptosis, and signaling pathways. Maternal chamomile intake has been found to influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in offspring via epigenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, apigenin may target cancers through normalizing patterns of DNA methylation and histone modifications.
Apigenin reduced the expression of the class-I HDACs at the transcriptomic and proteomic levels. In the immunoblotting study, Apigenin has upregulated pro-apoptotic markers and downregulated anti-apoptotic proteins. Apigenin inhibited the enzymatic activity of HDAC/DNMT and increased HAT activity. Apigenin has manifested its effect on miRNA expression by upregulating the tumor-suppressor miR-200b and downregulation oncomiR-21.
(Nimal 2024)
Apigenin provides chamomile tea with a variety of epigenetic benefits. It can inhibit enzymes involved in DNA methylation and histone modifications. This leads to changes in gene expression that reduce inflammation, ease anxiety, and fight cancer.
Apigenin is a plant-based flavone with anti-oxidative properties. Studies have demonstrated the protective effects of apigenin on aging-related diseases such as colon cancer, skin cancer and many others. A study investigated protective effects of apigenin where mice were administered continuously for 9 weeks with D-galactose subcutaneously. As a result, dietary treatment with apigenin resulted in improved aging-related changes such as behavioral deterioration, decreased organic index, histopathological injury, increased senescence-associated activity of β-galactosidase (SAβ-gal), enriched glycation product (AGE) level and decreased levels of MDA. Furthermore, treatment with apigenin also caused up-regulation of HO-1 and NQO-1, downstream gene targets for the Nrf2 pathway, eventually delaying the process of aging [122]. Another study on skin showed that apigenin reinstated the viability of human dermal fibroblasts (nHDFs) which decreased after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Additionally, apigenin treatment also reduced collagenase and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 expression in nHDFs irradiated by UVA [123]. The study also demonstrated the beneficial effects of apigenin on texture of the skin, moisture and the depletion of transepidermal water (TEWL).
(Arora 2020)
NAD+, a pivotal coenzyme central to metabolism, exhibits a characteristic decline with age. In mice, NAD+ levels can be elevated via treatment with apigenin, a natural flavonoid that inhibits the NAD+-consuming glycoprotein CD38.
…Apigenin’s therapeutic potential is underscored by human clinical studies using chamomile extract, which contains apigenin as an active ingredient. Collectively, chamomile extract has been reported to alleviate anxiety, improve mood, and relieve pain. Furthermore, dietary apigenin intake positively correlates with sleep quality in a large cohort of adults. Apigenin’s electron-rich flavonoid structure gives it strong bonding capacity to diverse molecular structures across receptors and enzymes. The effects of apigenin extend beyond CD38 inhibition, encompassing agonistic and antagonistic modulation of various targets, including GABA and inflammatory pathways. Cumulatively, a large body of evidence positions apigenin as a unique molecule capable of influencing both aging and sleep.
(Kramer 2024)
These findings suggest that chamomile tea, due to its apigenin content, may have potential health benefits related to its epigenetic and cell signaling effects. However, further research, including clinical studies, is needed to fully understand the impact of chamomile tea on human health through epigenetic mechanisms.
Brewing Chamomile Tea
Ingredients
1-2 teaspoons dried chamomile flowers
8 ounces hot water (not boiling)
Lemon or honey (optional)
Instructions
Add chamomile flowers to a teapot or tea infuser.
Pour 8 oz hot water (180°F) over the flowers.
Steep for 3-5 minutes.
Remove the flowers or strain the tea into a cup.
Add lemon or honey if desired.
Tips
Use freshly boiled water that has cooled slightly for best extraction.
Steep longer for a stronger tea.
Can be enjoyed hot or chilled.
Some sources of apigenin, besides chamomile tea, include:
Parsley: Dried parsley is reported to have a high quantity of apigenin, making it one of the best sources of this compound.
Celery: Celery and its seeds are a source of apigenin, with the seeds containing a significant amount of this compound.
Artichokes: This vegetable is also a source of apigenin.
Oregano: Oregano is another herb that contains apigenin.
Onions: Onions are a source of apigenin, particularly the outer layers.
Oranges: Oranges are a fruit that contains apigenin.
Conclusion:
You may wish to consider incorporating a cup of Chamomile Tea into a balanced daily diet!
(This Post is informational only, and does not constitute medical advice. Please ensure that any changes to diet are made in conjunction with a Medical Practioner. Chamomile Tea should not be consumed by those with allergies to other plants in the daisy family, i.e. Asteraceae or Compositae.)
References:
Busch C, Burkard M, Leischner C, Lauer UM, Frank J, Venturelli S. Epigenetic activities of flavonoids in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Clin Epigenetics. 2015 Jul 10;7(1):64. doi: 10.1186/s13148-015-0095-z. PMID: 26161152; PMCID: PMC4497414.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4497414/
Shankar E, Goel A, Gupta K, Gupta S. Plant flavone apigenin: An emerging anticancer agent. Curr Pharmacol Rep. 2017 Dec;3(6):423-446. doi: 10.1007/s40495-017-0113-2. Epub 2017 Oct 14. PMID: 29399439; PMCID: PMC5791748.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5791748/
Fahad Ali, Rahul, Falaq Naz, Smita Jyoti & Yasir Hasan Siddique (2017) Health functionality of apigenin: A review, International Journal of Food Properties, 20:6, 1197-1238, DOI: 10.1080/10942912.2016.1207188
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10942912.2016.1207188