# Vitexin

**Canonical URL:** https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com/ingredients/vitexin
**Data Source:** Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia
**Updated:** 2026-03-19
**Evidence Score:** 4 / 10
**Category:** Compound
**Also Known As:** 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone-8-glucoside, apigenin-8-C-glucoside, 8-glucosylapigenin, vitexin-2''-O-rhamnoside, saponaretin, C-glycosylflavone, orientin isomer

## Overview

Vitexin is a flavone C-glycoside found naturally in passionflower, hawthorn, and millet, where glucose is directly bonded to the carbon-8 position of the apigenin backbone. It exerts its primary biological effects by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling cascade, modulating nuclear factor-kappa B ([NF-κB](/ingredients/condition/inflammation)) activity, and activating the vitamin D receptor pathway.

## Health Benefits

• May support colorectal health by modulating vitamin D receptor pathways and macrophage function (preliminary animal evidence)
• Shows potential anti-cancer properties through PI3K/AKT pathway inhibition in endometrial cancer models (IC50 9.89-12.35 μM in vitro)
• Demonstrates cardioprotective effects via calcineurin-NFATc3/CaMKII pathways and reduction of [oxidative stress](/ingredients/condition/antioxidant) (animal studies only)
• May help regulate [blood glucose](/ingredients/condition/weight-management) levels through IRS-1/AKT insulin signaling pathways (rodent diabetes models)
• Exhibits [anti-inflammatory](/ingredients/condition/inflammation) properties through COX-1/COX-2 inhibition and NF-κB suppression (preclinical evidence)

## Mechanism of Action

Vitexin inhibits the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, reducing downstream phosphorylation of survival proteins that promote tumor cell proliferation, with documented IC50 values of 9.89–12.35 μM against endometrial cancer cell lines in vitro. It suppresses NF-κB nuclear translocation, thereby decreasing [pro-inflammatory cytokine](/ingredients/condition/inflammation) expression including TNF-α and IL-6. Additionally, vitexin modulates vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling and macrophage polarization states, influencing colonic epithelial barrier integrity and immune surveillance in animal models of colorectal disease.

## Clinical Summary

The current evidence base for vitexin consists almost entirely of in vitro cell studies and rodent animal models, with no completed large-scale human randomized controlled trials published as of early 2025. Animal studies have demonstrated cardioprotective effects including reduced myocardial infarct size and improved ejection fraction in ischemia-reperfusion injury models, though translation to human outcomes remains unconfirmed. In vitro anti-cancer data shows concentration-dependent apoptosis induction in endometrial, hepatic, and colorectal cancer cell lines at micromolar concentrations, but oral bioavailability challenges mean these concentrations may be difficult to achieve in human tissue. Researchers consider vitexin a promising phytochemical warranting Phase I human pharmacokinetic trials, but clinicians should not yet recommend it as a therapeutic agent for any specific condition.

## Nutritional Profile

Vitexin is a pure flavone glycoside compound (apigenin-8-C-glucoside), not a food ingredient, so it has no macronutrient, vitamin, or mineral profile. Molecular weight: 432.38 g/mol. It is a C-glycosylated flavonoid, meaning the glucose moiety is directly bonded to the flavone carbon skeleton at position C-8, distinguishing it from O-glycosides. Naturally occurring concentrations in source plants: hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) leaves 0.1–1.2% dry weight; passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) aerial parts 0.5–1.5% dry weight; pearl millet up to 0.3 mg/g dry weight; bamboo leaves 0.8–2.1 mg/g dry weight. Bioavailability is notably limited due to poor aqueous solubility (~0.04 mg/mL at physiological pH) and low [intestinal permeability](/ingredients/condition/gut-health) (classified as BCS Class IV). Oral bioavailability in rodent models estimated at 3–8%. The C-glycosidic bond resists acid hydrolysis in the stomach, but colonic microbiota can partially cleave the glucose unit, generating apigenin as a secondary metabolite. Plasma half-life reported at approximately 2–4 hours in animal pharmacokinetic studies. No dietary reference intake or recommended daily allowance exists, as vitexin is not classified as an essential nutrient. Typical experimental doses in in vitro studies range from 5–100 μM; animal study doses commonly 10–50 mg/kg body weight.

## Dosage & Preparation

No clinically studied human dosages exist. Preclinical studies used: in vitro 5-100 μM for various effects; in vivo 30-80 mg/kg orally or intraperitoneally in rodent models. No standardized human forms (extract percentages, powder) have been established. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.

## Safety & Drug Interactions

Vitexin has demonstrated a favorable safety profile in rodent toxicology studies, with no observed adverse effect levels reported at standard experimental doses, but formal human safety data is largely absent. Due to its inhibitory effects on cytochrome P450 enzymes, particularly CYP3A4, vitexin may theoretically potentiate the effects of drugs metabolized by this pathway including statins, benzodiazepines, and certain anticoagulants, warranting caution in polypharmacy contexts. Its antiplatelet and mild hypotensive properties observed in animal models suggest additive risk when combined with anticoagulants such as warfarin or antiplatelet agents like clopidogrel. Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals should avoid supplemental vitexin due to complete absence of reproductive safety data, even though dietary exposure through passionflower or millet is considered low-risk.

## Scientific Research

No human clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, or meta-analyses on vitexin were identified in current research. All evidence is limited to preclinical in vitro and in vivo animal studies, including mouse models showing effects on colitis-associated colorectal cancer through VDR pathways and endometrial cancer suppression at 80 mg/kg over 30 days.

## Historical & Cultural Context

While vitexin itself lacks documented traditional use history, it derives from Vitex negundo, a plant used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for [anti-inflammatory](/ingredients/condition/inflammation), [antioxidant](/ingredients/condition/antioxidant), and antidiabetic purposes. Lignans like vitexin have been noted in dietary contexts for potential cancer prevention.

## Synergistic Combinations

Isovitexin, Vitamin D, Quercetin, Apigenin, Hawthorn extract

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What foods are highest in vitexin?

Vitexin is found in notable concentrations in passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) leaves and flowers, hawthorn (Crataegus species) berries and leaves, pearl millet, buckwheat, and fig leaves. Passionflower extracts standardized for flavonoid content are among the richest supplemental sources, with vitexin and its isomer isovitexin comprising a significant portion of their total flavonoid profile. Green tea and certain bamboo species also contain measurable but lower amounts.

### What is the difference between vitexin and isovitexin?

Vitexin and isovitexin are structural isomers sharing the same apigenin flavone backbone and glucose sugar moiety, differing only in the glucose attachment site: vitexin has glucose bonded at the C-8 carbon position, while isovitexin has glucose bonded at the C-6 carbon position. This positional difference affects their binding affinity to various enzyme targets and their metabolic stability in the gastrointestinal tract. Both compounds are often present together in the same plant sources, including passionflower and hawthorn, and some studies use mixed extracts rather than isolating either compound.

### Does vitexin help with anxiety or sleep?

Vitexin is one of the active constituents in passionflower extracts, which have been studied in small human trials for generalized anxiety disorder, with one double-blind trial of 36 participants showing comparable anxiolytic effects to oxazepam 30 mg over four weeks. The proposed mechanism involves partial agonism or positive modulation at GABA-A receptors, similar in principle to benzodiazepines but without equivalent clinical evidence for standalone vitexin. It is important to note that most anxiety research used whole passionflower extract rather than isolated vitexin, so attributing the effect specifically to vitexin is not yet scientifically justified.

### What is the typical dosage of vitexin in supplements?

There is no established human therapeutic dosage for isolated vitexin because no dose-ranging clinical trials have been completed. In passionflower extract supplements, where vitexin is one of several active flavonoids, typical commercial doses range from 250–500 mg of standardized extract (often standardized to 2–4% total flavonoids) taken one to three times daily. Researchers in animal cardioprotection studies have used intraperitoneal doses of 10–40 mg/kg, which do not translate directly to oral human dosing due to differences in bioavailability and metabolism.

### Can vitexin inhibit cancer cell growth in humans?

Current evidence for vitexin's anti-cancer effects is limited to in vitro cell culture studies and some animal tumor models, where it has shown IC50 values of approximately 9.89–12.35 μM against endometrial cancer cells and similar activity in hepatocellular and colorectal cancer models through PI3K/AKT pathway inhibition and caspase-mediated apoptosis. Achieving these micromolar tissue concentrations in humans after oral ingestion is a significant pharmacokinetic challenge due to limited intestinal absorption and rapid hepatic metabolism of C-glycosides. No human oncology trials have been conducted, and vitexin should not be used as a substitute for conventional cancer treatment.

### Is vitexin safe to take with blood pressure or heart medications?

While vitexin shows cardioprotective potential in animal studies through calcineurin and CaMKII pathway modulation, human safety data with cardiovascular medications is limited. Anyone taking blood pressure or heart medications should consult a healthcare provider before adding vitexin supplements, as the theoretical effects on cardiac pathways could potentially interact with prescription treatments. Current evidence is insufficient to confirm safety or risk of interactions.

### How strong is the scientific evidence for vitexin's health benefits?

Most evidence for vitexin comes from in vitro (cell culture) and animal studies, which are considered preliminary and do not directly translate to human effectiveness. For colorectal health and cardioprotective effects, research is limited to laboratory and animal models with no completed clinical trials in humans. The anti-cancer potential shown in endometrial cancer cell lines is promising but remains far from clinical application without human studies.

### What form or source of vitexin is most bioavailable?

Vitexin bioavailability data in humans is sparse, though it is naturally present in foods like mung bean sprouts and passion fruit in glycoside form. Some preliminary evidence suggests vitexin may have modest intestinal absorption, but comparative bioavailability studies between natural food sources, isolated supplements, and different supplement formulations have not been conducted in humans. The optimal form for supplementation remains undetermined.

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*Source: Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia — https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com*
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