Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 19, 2026

Acacetin

Acacetin is a 4′-O-methylated flavone of the parent compound apigenin, found in Robinia pseudoacacia, Turnera diffusa (damiana), Betula pendula, and in the fern Asplenium normale.

Last revised
Jun 19, 2026
Read time
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Length
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Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Acacetin
Chemical structure of acacetin
Chemical structure of acacetin source ↗
Ball-and-stick model of acacetin
source ↗
Names
IUPAC name
5,7-Dihydroxy-4′-methoxyflavone
Systematic IUPAC name
5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
Other names
5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one
Linarigenin
Acacetine
Buddleoflavonol
Linarisenin
4′-Methoxyapigenin
Apigenin 4′-methyl ether
5,7-Dioxy-4′-methoxyflavone
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.006.867
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C16H12O5/c1-20-11-4-2-9(3-5-11)14-8-13(19)16-12(18)6-10(17)7-15(16)21-14/h2-8,17-18H,1H3 checkY
    Key: DANYIYRPLHHOCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C16H12O5/c1-20-11-4-2-9(3-5-11)14-8-13(19)16-12(18)6-10(17)7-15(16)21-14/h2-8,17-18H,1H3
    Key: DANYIYRPLHHOCZ-UHFFFAOYAN
  • COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O
  • O=C\1c3c(O/C(=C/1)c2ccc(OC)cc2)cc(O)cc3O
Properties
C16H12O5
Molar mass 284.26 g/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

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).3

It shows moderate aromatase inhibition.4

See also

See also

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

References

  1. Valkama, E; Salminen, J-P; Koricheva, J; Pihlaja, K (2004). "Changes in leaf trichomes and epicuticular flavonoids during leaf development in three birch taxa". Annals of Botany. 94 (2): 233–242. doi:10.1093/aob/mch131. PMC 4242156. PMID 15238348.
  2. UmiKalsom, Yusuf; Harborne, Jeffrey B. (1991). "Flavonoid distribution in asplenioid ferns". Pertanika. 14 (3): 297–300.
  3. Kuroki G, Poulton JE (1981). "The para-O-methylation of apigenin to acacetin by cell-free extracts of Robinia pseudoacacia L". Z. Naturforsch. C: Biosci. 36 (11–12): 916–920. doi:10.1515/znc-1981-11-1202.
  4. Zhao, J; Dasmahapatra, AK; Khan, SI; Khan, IA (December 2008). "Anti-aromatase activity of the constituents from damiana (Turnera diffusa)". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 120 (3): 387–393. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2008.09.016. PMID 18948180.