Suplmnt

Apigenin vs Chamomile Extract

Evidence Level: promising

For evidence-backed calming, choose standardized chamomile extract; it has human trials for GAD and sleep quality. Pick isolated apigenin if you want a single-compound stack and accept that human efficacy data are lacking. [1][2][5][6]

Chamomile extract edges out for typical needs (calm, sleep quality) because it has multiple human trials and defined standards. Apigenin offers dosing simplicity and consistency but lacks clinical outcomes and has poorer standalone bioavailability. If you're on warfarin or highly polypharmacy, avoid chamomile; if you need RCT-backed relief, prefer standardized chamomile at studied doses. [1][2][5][6][7][8]

Apigenin (isolated flavone) Products

German Chamomile Extract (Matricaria recutita) Products

The Comparison

A Apigenin (isolated flavone)

Standardization: Commonly sold as ≥95–98% apigenin aglycone; not tied to a pharmacopeial extract standard.

Dosage: Marketed 50–100 mg at bedtime; no human RCT-established dose for sleep/anxiety.

Benefits

  • •Single-compound consistency
  • •Theoretical GABAergic modulation and neurocalming mechanisms
  • •Easy to stack with other agents

Drawbacks

  • •Human clinical evidence for sleep/anxiety is lacking
  • •Oral aglycone shows low systemic availability due to rapid conjugation
  • •In vitro CYP3A4/2C9 inhibition raises interaction potential

Safety:Generally well-tolerated in foods; supplement data limited. Potential CYP3A4/2C9 inhibition in vitro—caution with narrow-therapeutic-index drugs metabolized by these enzymes. [10][11][12]

B German Chamomile Extract (Matricaria recutita)

Standardization: Examples: DER 4:1 ethanol/water extract standardized to ~1.2% apigenin-7-glucosides (Api-7Glc). USP monograph sets marker minima incl. apigenin-7-glucoside for crude drug.

Dosage: Clinical trials: 500 mg capsule three times daily (total 1500 mg/d; ~6 mg flavonoids per 500 mg). Pilot insomnia trial used 270 mg twice daily.

Benefits

  • •Human RCTs show modest anxiolytic effects in GAD; meta-analyses suggest improved sleep quality (not insomnia duration)
  • •Glycoside forms show better absorption vs aglycone in humans
  • •Widely available; pharmacopeial markers support quality control

Drawbacks

  • •Evidence for chronic insomnia endpoints is mixed/negative
  • •Large daily capsule burden (e.g., 1500 mg/d in trials)
  • •Interaction cautions (e.g., warfarin) and allergy risk (Asteraceae)

Safety:Generally safe short term; watch for ragweed-family allergy and anticoagulant interaction risk (case report with warfarin). Possible interaction with cyclosporine. [1][2][3][4][13]

Head-to-Head Analysis

Efficacy for anxiety (GAD) Critical

Winner:German Chamomile Extract (Matricaria recutita)• Importance: high

Two randomized trials in GAD show symptom reduction vs placebo and supportive open-label data; apigenin lacks human RCTs for anxiety. [1][2][5]

Efficacy for sleep Critical

Winner:German Chamomile Extract (Matricaria recutita)• Importance: high

Meta-analyses and clinical trials suggest improved sleep quality/awakenings with chamomile; primary insomnia RCT was negative. No human sleep RCTs for apigenin. [6][7][8]

Onset/time-to-effect

Winner:German Chamomile Extract (Matricaria recutita)• Importance: medium

GAD improvements seen within 2–4 weeks on HAM-A; apigenin lacks time-course data in humans. [6]

Side effects/tolerability Critical

Winner:Tie• Importance: high

Both generally well tolerated in studies/foods; chamomile has allergy risk; apigenin human supplement safety database is thin. [1][3][13]

Standardization/consistency

Winner:Apigenin (isolated flavone)• Importance: medium

Isolated apigenin offers single-molecule purity (≥95–98%); chamomile quality varies, though standardized extracts (≈1.2% Api-7Glc) and USP markers exist. [4][9]

Bioavailability/formulation

Winner:German Chamomile Extract (Matricaria recutita)• Importance: medium

Human PK shows higher metabolite recovery from chamomile glycosides vs apigenin aglycone; aglycone shows low urinary recovery. [7][8]

Cost/value per evidence-backed dose

Winner:German Chamomile Extract (Matricaria recutita)• Importance: medium

Chamomile's clinical doses are larger, but it has outcome evidence; apigenin may be cheaper per mg yet lacks human efficacy data for target outcomes. [1][2][6]

Stacking compatibility/contraindications

Winner:Apigenin (isolated flavone)• Importance: medium

Apigenin avoids chamomile's specific warfarin/cyclosporine concerns and Asteraceae allergy; still use caution for CYP interactions. [3][10][11]

Which Should You Choose?

Mild–moderate generalized anxiety (non-urgent relief over weeks)

Choose: German Chamomile Extract (Matricaria recutita)

Chamomile extract (e.g., 500 mg TID, DER 4:1, ~1.2% Api-7Glc) showed modest but significant benefits in RCTs. [1][2]

Improving sleep quality/less nighttime waking (not primary insomnia)

Choose: German Chamomile Extract (Matricaria recutita)

Evidence suggests improvements in sleep quality metrics; insomnia duration unchanged in the only insomnia RCT. [6][7]

Simple, single-ingredient stack alongside magnesium/L-theanine

Choose: Apigenin (isolated flavone)

Apigenin provides a consistent single active; acknowledge evidence gap for outcomes. [10]

On warfarin or with ragweed/chrysanthemum allergy

Choose: Apigenin (isolated flavone)

Avoid chamomile due to bleeding case report and allergy risk; apigenin still requires drug–drug interaction review. [3][13]

Prefer products with pharmacopeial markers and documented extract specs

Choose: German Chamomile Extract (Matricaria recutita)

Chamomile extracts can be standardized (e.g., ~1.2% apigenin-7-glucosides; USP marker minimums), aiding quality control. [4][9]

Safety Considerations

  • Anticoagulants: Avoid or closely monitor chamomile with warfarin; a case report described severe bleeding with heavy chamomile use. [3][14]
  • Transplant/immune drugs: Potential chamomile–cyclosporine interaction reported; consult a clinician. [13]
  • Allergy: Chamomile may trigger reactions in those sensitive to Asteraceae (ragweed, chrysanthemum, daisy); rare anaphylaxis reported. [13]
  • CYP interactions: Apigenin (and some flavonoids) inhibit CYP3A4/CYP2C9 in vitro—use caution with narrow-therapeutic-index substrates; clinical relevance at supplement doses is uncertain. [10][11][12]
  • Pregnancy/lactation: Insufficient safety data for both in medicinal doses; avoid unless advised by a clinician. [13]
  • Dosing notes: Chamomile GAD trials used 1500 mg/day standardized extract (500 mg TID). Insomnia pilot used 270 mg BID with no benefit on primary outcomes. Apigenin has no human RCT-established dose for sleep/anxiety. [1][2][5]

Common Questions

What dose is best?

Chamomile GAD trials used 500 mg capsules three times daily of a standardized extract. No clinically validated apigenin dose exists for sleep or anxiety. [1][2]

Can I just drink chamomile tea?

Tea can help some people relax, but RCTs used standardized extracts with known flavonoid content; tea dosing is variable. [1][13]

Will apigenin make me sleepy?

Human sleep data are lacking; mechanisms are theoretical. If used, start low and monitor for next-day sedation or interactions. [10][11]

Is chamomile safe with blood thinners?

Avoid or seek medical supervision; a case report linked heavy chamomile use with major bleeding on warfarin. [3]

Which is better for strict ingredient control?

Apigenin—single active with ≥95–98% purity. Chamomile extracts vary but can be standardized (~1.2% apigenin-7-glucosides). [4]

Sources

  1. 1.
    A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy for generalized anxiety disorder (2009) [link]
  2. 2.
    Long-term chamomile treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: randomized clinical trial (2016) [link]
  3. 3.
    Warfarin interaction with Matricaria chamomilla (case report) (2006) [link]
  4. 4.
    Putative antidepressant effect study—methods note with extract specs (DER 4:1; 1.2% apigenin-7-glucosides) (2020) [link]
  5. 5.
    Preliminary RCT of standardized chamomile for chronic primary insomnia (2011) [link]
  6. 6.
    Systematic review/meta-analysis: chamomile for anxiety/insomnia/sleep quality (2019) [link]
  7. 7.
    Systematic review/meta-analysis: chamomile and sleep (2024) (2024) [link]
  8. 8.
    Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of apigenin and its glycosides in healthy adults (2022) [link]
  9. 9.
    USP Chamomile monograph (preview) with APG marker minima [link]
  10. 10.
    Inhibitory effects of polyphenols on human CYP3A4 and 2C9 activity (apigenin included) (2009) [link]
  11. 11.
    Characterization of CYP3A4 inhibition by selected flavonoids (apigenin) (2021) [link]
  12. 12.
    Mechanism of CYP2C9 inhibition by flavones and flavonols (2009) [link]
  13. 13.
    NCCIH Chamomile: Usefulness and Safety (overview) (2024) [link]
  14. 14.
    Warfarin and food/herbal interactions—systematic review (includes chamomile) (2020) [link]

Apigenin (isolated flavone) vs German Chamomile Extract (Matricaria recutita) • 14 sources

← Back to articles