Study on metabolism of apigenin from celery leaf in human

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.