“Over the last 24+ years I have done extensive research on all aspects of cellulite and have identified flavonoids as one of the most important aspects of cellulite prevention and reduction. Apigenin is correctly identified by this study as an important anti-cellulite compound. Apigenin, due to its intense yellow colour, cannot be used in anti-cellulite creams but it can be taken as a supplement and of course as a food / herbal tea component.”
Apigenin, cellulite and your thighs
Apigenin and cellulite | In summary
Celery, parsley, fennel, coriander, dill, caraway, anise: aromatic, tasty and good for your thighs
How to screen for anti-cellulite potential in plants
Parsley, celery, apigenin and cellulite
Chamomile, apigenin and cellulite
How to harness apigenin’s anti-cellulite action
What about apigenin in anti-cellulite creams?
Untargeted metabolomics-based molecular networking for chemical characterization of selected Apiaceae fruit extracts in relation to their antioxidant and anti-cellulite potentials
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Apigenin and cellulite | In summary
A December 2023 study explored the anti-cellulite, antioxidant, and anti-ageing properties of plants in the Apiaceae family, including parsley, celery, fennel, dill, and coriander. Researchers analysed the seeds of nine species for their phytochemical content—particularly flavonoids, terpenoids, polyacetylenes, and sterols—using advanced software and molecular profiling techniques.
Celery and parsley seeds emerged as the most promising, showing high antioxidant activity, increased fat breakdown (lipolysis), and reduced fat formation (adipogenesis).
The flavonoid apigenin, especially abundant in dried parsley, was identified as the key compound behind these effects. Also found in chamomile, apigenin combats cellulite by targeting free radical damage, inflammation, fibrosis, fat accumulation, and poor skin tone. While the study was not clinical, it supports the inclusion of apigenin-rich herbs and spices—such as parsley, celery, dill, and chamomile—in the diet to help reduce cellulite.
Consumption can be enhanced through teas, juices, or supplements. However, apigenin’s deep yellow colour makes it unsuitable for topical creams, though alternative compounds like caffeine, EGCG, and curcumin may be used. A healthy diet and regular exercise remain essential for effective cellulite prevention.
Celery, parsley, fennel, coriander, dill, caraway, anise: aromatic, tasty and good for your thighs
A new study, published a few days ago (December 2023) looked at the potential antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-cellulite potential of a family of aromatic plants called Apiaceae or Umbelliferae.
Common apiaceae plants include ajwain, angelica, anise, asafoetida, caraway, carrot, celery, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, lovage, cow parsley, parsley, parsnip and sea holly.
The scientists examined the seeds of 9 of those plants (greater ammi (ammi majus), khella (ammi visnaga), dill (anethum graveolens), celery (apium graveolens), caraway (carum carvi), coriander (coriandrum sativum), parsley (petroselinum crispum), anise (pimpinella anisum), and fennel (foeniculum vulgare).
How to screen for anti-cellulite potential in plants
According to the study, “members of the apiaceae family are recognised as prolific producers of several metabolites such as flavonoids, coumarins, terpenoids, saponins, polyacetylenes and sterols, and are perceived as exceptional sources of pharmaceutically important volatile oils.”
So the scientists screened for content of the above phytochemicals and consequently examined the anti-oxidant and anti-cellulite potential of the seeds of these plants with special software and novel databases (feature-based molecular networks, FBMN).
Parsley, celery, apigenin and cellulite
Celery (apium graveolens) seeds and parsley (Petroselinum crispum) seeds were the two plants out of nine with the highest anti-cellulite potential, according to the phytochemical profile of the plants.
The results revealed “excellent free radical scavenging activity, remarkably increased lipolysis, and decreased adipogenesis”.
With further examination it was shown that apigenin and its glycosides to be the most important actives in both extracts, responsible for their antioxidant activity and anti-cellulite potential.
Chamomile, apigenin and cellulite
Apigenin is a flavonoid also abundantly found in chamomile and is known for its antioxidant, lipolytic and antifibrotic action.
However, dried parsley is the richest source of apigenin: dried parsley contains about 45 mg apigenin/gram of the herb, and dried chamomile flower about 3–5 mg/gram and dried celery about 1mg/g.
Of course, this was just a software analysis and not an actual clinical study, but the results check, as polyphenols and flavonoids, such as apigenin, have a major role to play against cellulite, as they act on free radical damage, glycation, inflammation, fibrosis, fat accumulation, skin laxity and water retention, i.e. all seven aspects of cellulite.
How to harness apigenin’s anti-cellulite action
In this blog we always made it abundantly clear that herbs and spices (including but not limited to those of the apiaceae family) are essential against cellulite, as they contain numerous polyphenols and other phytochemicals, which are known to fight cellulite via multiple pathways.
We have also previously identified flavonoids, such as apigenin, as important anti-cellulite actives.
How can you use the power of the apiaceae plants and apigenin (as well as other flavonoids and polyphenols, in general) to help prevent and reduce cellulite? It’s simple:
Have as much as possible of herbs, spices, vegetables, berry fruits and citrus fruits in your diet, including parsley, carrots, celery, celeriac, anise, fennel, caraway, coriander, dill etc. To be honest, we can easily imagine an aromatic stew with all the above in it.
Enjoy an aromatic vegetable juice or smoothie with celery, parsley, dill, fennel and coriander in it - seeds are more concentrated in apigenin but leaves can be eaten in higher amounts
Make a habit of drinking a nice chamomile tea (and alternate with other teas, such as green tea, which is also amazingly good for your thighs, or even fennel tea)
And combine all the above with an overall healthy diet and lots of everyday physical activity and exercise
For faster results have a deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency and high-power ultrasound cavitation, the strongest safe cellulite reduction treatment
For extra help you can apply a real cellulite cream, i.e. one with multiple, high-purity anti-cellulite actives in high concentrations
What about apigenin in anti-cellulite creams?
Apigenin could make an amazing anti-cellulite active, if only it wasn’t too yellow (the same applies to other amazing actives, such as quercetin).
As nobody wants their trousers, skirts, leggings or underwear to turn yellow, I do not see such a cream making to the market anytime soon.
However, if you wish to consume concentrated apigenin, there are quite a few quality supplements nowadays with 100mg per capsule of apigenin, i.e. the equivalent of about 5-7 cups of chamomile tea.
Most people use apigenin in supplement form for relaxation or for its soothing and anti-inflammatory action - chamomile tea is renowned for those- but you may also use it for cellulite prevention - always consult your healthcare practitioner first.
(As apigenin is relaxing, the best time to take an apigenin supplement or have an apigenin-rich herbal tea, such as chamomile, is right before you sleep.)
You may also use a cream with equally or more effective actives, such as asiatic acid, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, madecassoside, curcumin, EGCG, caffeine, forskolin, chlorogenic acid, hydroxyproline and cocoa flavanols, among others.
Untargeted metabolomics-based molecular networking for chemical characterization of selected Apiaceae fruit extracts in relation to their antioxidant and anti-cellulite potentials
Research paper link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38128622/
Abstract: Stress, obesity, hormonal changes, and aging have been connected to cellulite aggravation resulting in skin dimpled appearance, a very common painless skin disorder with a female preponderance. Several Apiaceae plants have been traditionally used for cosmetic applications. However, their screening for anti-cellulite potential has not been deeply investigated. In this work, UPLC-HRMS/MS coupled with molecular networking was employed to glean a holistic overview of the chemodiversity of the metabolome of nine Apiaceae fruits. Additionally, the extracts were screened for in vitro antioxidant and anti-cellulite activities. Apium graveolens and Petroselinum crispum revealed excellent free radical scavenging activity, remarkably increased lipolysis, and decreased adipogenesis. Furthermore, apigenin and its glycosides were identified to be the major components in both extracts, which might be responsible for the antioxidant activity and anti-cellulite potential. Conclusively, these results signify the potent antioxidant and anti-cellulite properties of A. graveolens and P. crispum fruit extracts, holding potential for the development of plant derived products for cellulite management.
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At LipoTherapeia we have specialised 100% in skin tightening and cellulite reduction for more than two decades and 20,000+ sessions.
This is all we study and practise every day and have researched and tried hands-on all the important skin tightening equipment and their manufacturers.
As strong, deep acting radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation are the technologies of choice for skin tightening and cellulite reduction, we have invested in the best RF/ultrasound technologies in the world.
(Of course, we keep looking for new technologies every day and if/when a better technology materialises we will be the first to provide it. However, we will never follow the latest ineffective gimmick, just because it’s good marketing to offer the latest hyped up - yet ineffective and/or unsafe treatment.)
Furthermore, over the last two decades we have developed advanced RF and cavitation treatment protocols in order to make the most of our technologies, for maximum results, naturally and safely.
And for even better, faster results, we now combine our RF/ultrasound treatments with high-power red/infrared light LED treatment.
Our radiofrequency/ultrasound/LED treatments are comfortable, pain-free, downtime-free, injection-free, 99.5%+ safe and always non-invasive.
(No unsafe and ineffective RF microneedling or HIFU and no safe but ineffective acoustic wave therapy, superficial RF (bipolar/tripolar/multipolar etc), low power RF/cavitation, electrical muscle stimulation, lymphatic massage, cupping, dry brushing and no ridiculous bum bum creams.)
Our focus is on honest, realistic, science-based treatment, combined with caring, professional service, with a smile.
We will be pleased to see you, assess your cellulite, skin laxity or fibrosis, listen to your story, discuss your case and offer you the best possible treatment.
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