Acacetin Explained

Acacetin is a 4′-O-methylated flavone of the parent compound apigenin, found in Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust), Turnera diffusa (damiana), Betula pendula (silver birch),^[1] and in the fern Asplenium normale.^[2]

In plant synthesis the enzyme apigenin 4′-O-methyltransferase uses S-adenosyl methionine and 5,7,4′-trihydroxyflavone (apigenin) to produce S-adenosylhomocysteine and 4′-methoxy-5,7-dihydroxyflavone (acacetin).

It shows moderate aromatase inhibition.^[3]

See also

• Genkwanin (methoxylated apigenin)
• Thevetiaflavone (methoxylated apigenin)

Notes and References

1. Valkama . E . Salminen . J-P . Koricheva . J . Pihlaja . K . Changes in leaf trichomes and epicuticular flavonoids during leaf development in three birch taxa . Annals of Botany. 2004 . 94 . 2 . 233–242 . 10.1093/aob/mch131 . 15238348 . 4242156.
2. Flavonoid distribution in asplenioid ferns . Yusuf . UmiKalsom . Jeffrey B. . Harborne . Pertanika . 1991 . 14 . 3 . 297–300.
3. Zhao . J . Dasmahapatra . AK . Khan . SI . Khan . IA . Anti-aromatase activity of the constituents from damiana (Turnera diffusa) . Journal of Ethnopharmacology . December 2008 . 120 . 3 . 387–393 . 18948180. 10.1016/j.jep.2008.09.016.