MOLECULE

Vitexin

Vitexin, also known as apigenin 8-C-glucoside or 8-glycosylapigenin, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as flavonoid 8-C-glycosides. Flavonoid 8-C-glycosides are compounds containing a carbohydrate moiety which is C-glycosidically linked to 8-position of a 2-phenylchromen-4-one flavonoid backbone. Vitexin is also described as an apigenin flavone glucoside. Vitexin is an active component in many traditional Chinese medicines and it is also one of 23 flavonoids that have been identified in cannabis plants (PMID: 6991645). It has also been found in passion flower, chasteberry, bamboo leaves, millet and Hawthorn. Vitexin has shown a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperalgesic, and neuroprotective effects (PMID: 27693342). Vitexin has also been shown to directly inhibit thyroid peroxidase and potentially contributes to goiter (PMID: 1696490). It is sometimes called a goitrogen.