Apigenin for Sleep: No Trial Has Tested It on Its Own, and the Closest Evidence Is Mixed
Apigenin, a flavone found in chamomile, has become a popular bedtime supplement. We found no published placebo-controlled trial of apigenin capsules on their own for sleep. Chamomile extract trials are mixed, and a 2026 trial of an evening blend containing 50 mg of apigenin found no sleep benefit. Here is what each study found, who paid for it, and who should be careful.
By Kymata Health Editorial Published Last checked
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Momentous Apigenin, 60 capsules
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Label: 1 capsule: 50 mg apigenin (from grapefruit).
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Key takeaways
From 6 sources- In a 28-day pilot trial in 34 adults with chronic insomnia, chamomile extract (about 23 mg of apigenin a day by the authors' analysis) did not improve sleep time, time to fall asleep or night waking versus placebo1.
- In 60 older adults in an Iranian nursing home, chamomile extract improved sleep quality scores versus a wheat-flour placebo, but the trial was only single-blind2.
- A 2026 trial funded by the supplement company Momentous found its evening blend (magnesium L-threonate, L-theanine and 50 mg apigenin) produced no reported sleep or stress benefit over placebo after 2 weeks3.
- Plain apigenin is poorly absorbed: in one human study, metabolites equal to just 0.5% of the dose appeared in urine over 24 hours5.
- Chamomile has reported interactions with warfarin and some liver-metabolised drugs, may weaken birth control pills, and can cause allergic reactions in people allergic to ragweed6.
What this article covers
1 evidence profileThe evidence, graded
Pulled from the trial tables in our evidence profiles. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Graded findings
4 rows- DGrade DSleep diary measures in chronic insomnia (chamomile extract)No effect No significant differences from placebo in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, night waking or sleep quality. Daytime functioning showed a modest, non-significant advantage.Apigenin · Pilot RCT · n=34 · 2011 · PMID 21939549
- DGrade DSleep quality in older adults (chamomile extract)Improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were better than with a wheat-flour placebo after the intervention (P<0.05).Apigenin · RCT · n=60 · 2017 · PMID 29154054
- DGrade DStress and sleep (evening blend with 50 mg apigenin)No effect The evening blend showed no reported sleep or stress benefit over placebo; the improvements went to the morning ashwagandha and rhodiola group.Apigenin · RCT · n=103 · 2026 · PMID 42829807
- DGrade DAnxiety symptoms in generalized anxiety disorder (chamomile extract)Improved Hamilton Anxiety scores fell more than with placebo (P=0.047); secondary measures moved in the same direction.Apigenin · RCT · n=57 · 2009 · PMID 19593179
Where these trials agree: Apigenin and sleep, counted row by row in the Consensus finder.
Why apigenin is sold for sleep
Apigenin is a plant flavone best known as one of the active compounds in chamomile, and lab studies suggest it acts on the brain's calming GABA receptors1. That is why some chamomile extracts are standardised to their apigenin content4.
We found no published placebo-controlled trial of isolated apigenin capsules for sleep, so the evidence comes from chamomile extracts and one blend123.
What the chamomile trials found
In a US pilot trial, 34 adults aged 18 to 65 with primary insomnia for at least 6 months took 270 mg of chamomile extract twice a day or placebo for 28 days1. The authors' lab analysis found 3.9 mg of apigenin per 90 mg of extract, which works out to about 23 mg of apigenin a day1. There were no significant differences in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, time to fall asleep, night waking or sleep quality, and total sleep time actually leaned towards placebo1. Daytime functioning showed a modest advantage that was not significant1.
That trial was funded by a University of Michigan seed grant and a US National Institutes of Health grant, the funders had no role in the study, and the authors declared no competing interests; the extract came from the manufacturer, MediHerb1.
In an Iranian trial, 60 adults aged 60 or older at a day-care nursing home took 200 mg of chamomile extract or wheat-flour capsules twice a day for 28 days2. Sleep quality scores were significantly better on chamomile afterwards (P < 0.05), but the trial was single-blind and the abstract does not give the apigenin content or a funder2.
NCCIH, part of the US National Institutes of Health, sums up that there is very little information on chamomile for insomnia6.
The only trial with a stated apigenin dose found no sleep benefit
A 2026 double-blind trial randomised 103 healthy, physically active adults to four groups for 2 weeks: a morning ashwagandha and rhodiola product, an evening product with 2 g magnesium L-threonate, 200 mg L-theanine and 50 mg apigenin, both, or placebo3. The improvements in stress, mood and sleep went to the morning-only group; the evening blend did not show a reported benefit over placebo3.
The trial was funded by Momentous LLC, which makes supplements, and the authors reported no conflicts of interest3. Because the blend combined three ingredients, apigenin's own effect cannot be separated3.
For better-studied options, see our explainers on melatonin dose and timing, magnesium L-threonate and L-theanine. The apigenin page grades each finding.
Anxiety results and absorption
For anxiety the chamomile evidence is a little stronger. In a US trial of 57 outpatients with mild to moderate generalised anxiety disorder, chamomile extract standardised to 1.2% apigenin reduced anxiety scores more than placebo over 8 weeks (P = 0.047)4. It was funded by US National Institutes of Health grants4.
Absorption is a real limit. In a University of California, Davis study in healthy men, plain apigenin was poorly absorbed, with metabolites equal to 0.5% of the dose excreted in urine over 24 hours, compared with 34% after chamomile tea containing an apigenin glucoside5. Its PubMed record lists no funder5.
Who should be careful
Check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking apigenin or chamomile supplements if any of these apply:
- Taking warfarin or other blood thinners: interactions between chamomile and warfarin have been reported6.
- Taking medicines broken down by the liver, or sedatives: chamomile interactions with some liver-metabolised drugs have been reported, and there are theoretical reasons to expect interactions with sedatives6.
- Using birth control pills, or with a hormone-sensitive condition such as breast or uterine cancer: chamomile might have estrogen-like effects and might reduce the effect of birth control pills6.
- Allergy to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or daisies: allergic reactions to chamomile, including severe ones, are more likely6.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children: little is known about chamomile safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding6, and the trials described here enrolled adults only123.
- Long-term insomnia: the one insomnia trial found no benefit1, so persistent sleep problems are worth raising with a clinician.
Quick answers
Common questions
4 answersHow much apigenin is in sleep supplements?
Is chamomile tea the same as an apigenin supplement?
No. Chamomile tea delivers apigenin as a glucoside, which was absorbed far better (34% recovered in urine) than plain apigenin (0.5%) in one human study5.
Can apigenin be combined with magnesium and L-theanine?
That combination was tested in a 2026 trial and showed no reported sleep benefit over placebo after 2 weeks3.
Does apigenin help with anxiety?
Chamomile extract standardised to apigenin modestly reduced anxiety scores in one 8-week trial4; isolated apigenin has not been tested this way.
Keep reading
Full evidence profiles
Every graded study, studied doses, interactions and safetyRelated articles
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Where to buy Apigenin
Products from brands we partner with that contain Apigenin. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied, and the label for other ingredients.
Apigenin products from partner brands
3 products Paid links · we earn a commission- Quick pickMomentousMomentous Apigenin, 60 capsulesWe use this brand at home. What we useSubscribe & save 25%
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1 capsule: 50 mg apigenin (from grapefruit); 60 servings
$24.99one-time$18.74subscribeChecked Oct 15, 2026 - SupersmartLiposomal Apigenin5% off with the Supersmart newsletterGet 5% off with the newsletter (paid link, opens in new tab)
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1 capsule: 100 mg apigenin (200 mg liposomal grapefruit-zest extract); 30 servings. No published trial has tested isolated apigenin at this dose; the cited blend trial used 50 mg with other ingredients.
$39.00one-time$33.15subscribeChecked Oct 11, 2026 - Renue by ScienceRenue by Science LIPO Apigenin, liposomal capsules (90)Subscribe & Save 10%
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1 capsule: 75 mg apigenin (liposomal)
$49.95one-time$44.96subscribeChecked Oct 15, 2026
References
6 sources. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited in this article
6 sources- 1Preliminary examination of the efficacy and safety of a standardized chamomile extract for chronic primary insomnia: a randomized placebo-controlled pilot studyBMC Complement Altern Med, 2011 · PMID 21939549
- 2The effects of chamomile extract on sleep quality among elderly people: A clinical trialComplement Ther Med, 2017 · PMID 29154054
- 3Modulating stress and sleep through a multi-compound dietary supplement: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialJ Int Soc Sports Nutr, 2026 · PMID 42829807
- 4A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy for generalized anxiety disorderJ Clin Psychopharmacol, 2009 · PMID 19593179
- 5Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of apigenin and its glycosides in healthy male adultsFree Radic Biol Med, 2022 · PMID 35452808
- 6Chamomile: Usefulness and SafetyNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), 2024
Apigenin and other dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Talk to your clinician or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines. Product links on this page are paid partner links.