Chrysin (CS)

Chrysin is a naturally occurring flavone, a type of flavonoid. It is found in the passion flowers Passiflora caerulea and Passiflora incarnata, and in Oroxylum indicum. It is also found in chamomile, in the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, and in honeycomb. Chrysin is available as an bodybuilding supplement and it is taken with the hope of raising testosterone levels or stimulating testosterone production; however, there is no clinical evidence for this effect. Studies show that chrysin has no effect on estrogen levels in either animals or humans. Follow-up studies determined that cell membranes effectively block chrysin from entering the cells and having any effect at all on estrogen levels in organisms. Chrysin was found to have no ability to inhibit aromatase, possibly due to poor absorption or bioavailability. Chrysin inhibits COX-2 expression and via IL-6 signaling, which may contribute to anti-inflammatory effects.