Abstract: Objective Absorption and excretion of apigenin was tested after the ingestion of celery leaf.Methods Ten healthy subjects(5 women,5 men)in the age range of 24～28 years and with an average body mass index of 20.37 kg/m² took part in this study.After an apigenin-and luteolin-free diet,a single oral celery leaf of 2 g/(kg·bw)was consumed.Blood samples were taken at 4,6,7,8,9,10,11 and 28 h after celery leaf consumption and 24h urine samples were collected.Apigenin was analyzed in plasma,urine and red blood cells by means of HPLC-ECD.Results A maximum apigenin plasma concentration of(207.11±97.55)nmol/L was reached after(7.70±0.82)h.For all participants,plasma apigenin concentration rose after celery leaf ingestion and fell within 28h under the detection limit(2.32 nmol/L).The average apigenin content in urine was(2251.72±1304.22)nmol/L 24h corresponding to(0.62±0.37)% of the ingested dose.The apigenin could be detected in red blood cells without time-response characteristics.Conclusion A small portion of apigenin provided by food reaches the human circulation and,therefore,may reveal biological effects.