ABSTRACT
Flavonoids almost certainly contribute to the antidepressant effects of herbs. Human studies have shown that high intake of dietary flavonoids has a protective effect against Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). A large study revealed that midlife women who consumed two or more servings a day of foods rich in flavonoids, flavan-3-ol polymers, and proanthocyanidins over a ten-year period had a roughly 10% lower risk of developing MDD than those that consumed less than one serving a day of such food. Amentoflavone is unique biflavonoid that occurs in a number of medicinal plants, including Ginkgo biloba and Hypericum perforatum. It is also found in Cnestis ferruginea, which is used in traditional African medicine in the management of psychiatric disorders. Apigenin is a common flavone found in a variety of herbs and spices, including avena sativa, chamomile, cecropia, chaste tree, Chrysanctinia mexicana, garlic, lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and skullcap. This flavonoid has been found to have antidepressant-like effects in several preclinical studies.
