From buckwheat to mung beans, vitexin is an antioxidant found in a number of plants. It's also an important ingredient in supplements that support a healthy inflammatory response, and promote cytokine balance. Fans of this flavonoid praise it for everything from benefiting the brain and heart to helping maintain already-healthy blood sugar levels. So what is vitexin, and will it help you live a healthier life? Vitexin is an antioxidant flavonoid occurring in mung bean and other edible plants…although to be fair, these aren't foods you'll find in the typical American kitchen. It's sought after in the supplement world because it's a compound that has antioxidant activity. Vitexin and other flavonoids help quench free radicals, which supports your overall health.[1]

What are the health benefits of vitexin?

Vitexin's health benefits aren't limited to just one part of the body or system. In fact, research suggests this flavonoid may support wellness in a variety of different ways: Has antioxidant activity; May support brain health; Helps promote a healthy inflammatory responseSupports already-healthy blood sugar levels; Helps maintain heart health; May inhibit signs of aging.

Best sources of vitexin: food vs. supplements

If you're curious about how you can add vitexin to your stay-well strategy, you're in luck. Beside mung bean seed coat, vitexin is found in passionflower, chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), cucumber, pearl millet (the most widely grown millet), hawthorn berries, fenugreek seeds, wild green oats and other plants. Liquid and encapsulated standardized extracts from some of these plants provide a concentrated source of their active components, including vitexin.One of the most valuable things about vitexin appears to be its antioxidant activity in the body. Obtained from the food we eat, or made in the body, antioxidants are compounds which neutralize the activity of free radicals, which may be generated in response to everything from everyday stress to preservatives in our food.

When you don't have enough antioxidants to balance out one group of free radicals, known as reactive oxygen species, it results in oxidative stress. This imbalance of free radicals and the body's ability to neutralize them can impact your health. In fact, the “free radical theory of aging” suggests free radicals may be associated with age-related implications of growing older.Research shows that vitexin is a helpful antioxidant that protects against oxidative stress. In an experiment in which free radicals was induced in red blood cells, the administration of vitexin was associated with enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity.Vitexin has been associated with several neuroprotective effects. In rats, vitexin supported memory. When given an extract of passionflower, which is a significant source of vitexin, it supported the area of the brain involved in memory in mice.[2]

Research has shown that vitexin can help promote a healthy inflammatory response. Polyphenols such as vitexin have been shown to support a healthy inflammatory response.In a study involving mice, vitexin helped inhibit inflammation to promote whole-body health. In another experiment, it was found that vitexin supported white blood cell health.Vitexin has been shown to support healthy production of cytokines. What are cytokines? Cytokines are molecules released by cells to signal to the immune system that the body needs to initiate a healthy response. Sometimes our bodies overproduce cytokines, however, so it's important to maintain a healthy balance. Having an optimal balance of cytokines is important to support a healthy inflammatory response.

Here's where vitexin comes in. In one study, vitexin helped support healthy expression of the cytokines in human cartilage cells, which means this antioxidant may help support healthy joints.Meanwhile, in mice, vitexin helped support a healthy inflammatory response and normalized cytokine release. And in another rodent study, the administration of vitexin helped support the healthy production of cytokines associated with occasional discomfort.Vitexin may help maintain healthy levels of a protein known as HMGB1 which can induce production of cytokines. Like vitexin, research has revealed that EGCG, a major beneficial component of green tea, also has this property. Adding EGCG to a vitexin supplement may help maintain a healthy cytokine response.

Other sweet benefits of vitexin

Laboratory research has found that vitexin supported an already-healthy level of blood glucose (blood sugar) after mice were fed table sugar; it accomplished this by inhibiting an enzyme known as alpha-glucosidase which converts carbohydrates we consume into glucose.Vitexin has also been shown to support the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. So if your goal is to keep your already-normal blood sugar levels healthy, this antioxidant may be worth adding to your supplement routine.Trying to keep your heart healthy? Vitexin may help support the heart in addition to other health benefits. It is one of the major recognized flavonoids in hawthorn berries, a plant that has been traditionally used to promote heart health—in fact, vitexin is one of the flavonoids believed to be responsible for hawthorn's benefit to the heart.You can find hawthorn in heart health supplements like Cardio Peak.Some studies suggest that vitexin may help keep us young…or at least, age gracefully! In mice that were given vitexin to fight accelerated aging, vitexin was linked to better overall health, including higher levels of antioxidants. Not only that, but the aged mice who were given vitexin actually looked and acted more youthful—their hair color and luster improved, and they became more active.

Chaste tree berry (Vitex agnus castus), which is a source of vitexin, has a history of use by perimenopausal or postmenopausal women (who experience hot flashes and other discomforts) to promote comfort. It is also used by premenopausal women with PMS symptoms to support wellbeing.An analysis of clinical trials found that consuming chaste tree berry was associated with premenstrual support in 13 of 14 trials. According to a recent review, chasteberry may benefit women in menopause, also. However, the components of chaste tree berry that may be responsible for these effects have not yet been identified.[3]

Effects of vitexin in oxidative stress‐related diseases

In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, vitexin was recently shown to support liver health in mice. [4]A study compared the effects of vitexin to no vitexin in mice that were given a high fat diet. Animals that received vitexin had healthy levels of fats and cholesterol in the serum and liver in comparison to untreated mice.The researchers proposed that vitexin may support a healthy liver by activating AMPK, an enzyme that promotes energy balance and is used for weight management.While vitexin may be an unfamiliar word to some people, science continues to reveal new findings related to the benefits of this and other plant nutrients. We anticipate more research that may lead to clinical trials to further explore the effects of this multifaceted flavonoid.

Vitexin is an apigenin flavone glycoside found in food and medicinal plants. It has a variety of pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, antinociceptive, and neuroprotective effects. This review study summarizes all the protective effects of vitexin as an antioxidant against reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and other oxidative damages in a variety of oxidative stress‐related diseases, including seizure, memory impairment, cerebral ischemia, neurotoxicity, myocardial and respiratory injury, and metabolic dysfunction, with possible molecular and cellular mechanisms. This review describes any activation or inhibition of the signaling pathways that depend on the antioxidant activity of vitexin. More basic research is needed on the antioxidative effects of vitexin in vivo, and carrying out clinical trials for the treatment of oxidative stress‐related diseases is also recommended.

References

[1] Abbasi E et al. Chin J Physiol. 2013 Jun 30;56(3):184-9.

[2] An F et al. Neural Regen Res. 2012 Nov 25;7(33):2565-75.

[3] An F et al. Pharmazie. 2015 Nov;70(11):724-32.

[4] Babaei F et al. Food Sci Nutr. 2020 Jun; 8(6): 2569–2580.