The Study
Flavonoid Apigenin Is an Inhibitor of the NAD+ase CD38
This study showed that a chemical in plants called apigenin can block a specific enzyme in mice and lab cells, which then made their bodies produce more of a helpful molecule called NAD+. That helped their blood sugar and fat levels improve. But this doesn’t mean eating apigenin will fix obesity in people.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
A natural compound in plants called apigenin blocks an enzyme (CD38) that breaks down a vital molecule (NAD+) in the body, helping cells work better.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 516 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — this suggests apigenin could help treat obesity-related diseases like fatty liver and diabetes by boosting cellular energy and fat burning.
- 2Apigenin blocked CD38 at 10–13 μmol/L; in obese mice, it raised NAD+ levels, lowered fat buildup in the liver, and improved blood sugar control.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Diabetes
Year
2013
Authors
C. Escande, Verónica Nin, Nathan L. Price, V. Capellini, A. P. Gomes, M. T. Barbosa, Luke O’Neil, T. White, D. Sinclair, E. Chini
Related Content
Videos (1)
Claims (7)
Apigenin raises the amount of NAD+ inside mouse cells and tissues, and this increase requires the presence of the CD38 protein.
In obese mice, a compound called apigenin inhibits the CD38 enzyme, leading to higher levels of NAD+ in the liver, lower levels of protein acetylation, increased activity of enzymes that break down fatty acids, and reduced fat accumulation in the liver.
Apigenin directly reduces the activity of the CD38 enzyme in laboratory cell experiments, with measurable inhibition concentrations of 10.3 μmol/L for NAD+ase and 12.8 μmol/L for ADP-ribosyl cyclase.
Apigenin reduces the activity of the CD38 enzyme in mouse liver and cells, which increases NAD+ levels and decreases protein acetylation, leading to better glucose control and lower liver fat in obese mice on a high-fat diet.
Apigenin reduces the activity of the enzyme CD38, which results in higher levels of NAD+ inside cells and a higher ratio of NAD+ to NADH.
Apigenin increases SIRT1 activity and raises the NAD+/NADH ratio, producing metabolic changes similar to those caused by reducing calorie intake.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.