NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
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Celery Seed Extract

Apium graveolens

Phthalide-rich seed extract studied mainly for blood pressure.

Moderate evidence 🫀Heart & Metabolic

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Moderate
Research weight
Citations
7 verified / 7
Classification
Heart & Metabolic
❝
What the evidence says. Graded moderate: several short RCTs show real systolic/diastolic falls and lower glucose and triglycerides, but trials are small, almost all from Asian centres, ≤4-6 weeks, methodologically weak (high risk of bias, I² 77-96%), and a larger 12-week T2DM trial found no between-group benefit. (Moderate evidence: Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent.)

What is Celery Seed Extract?

Celery Seed Extract (Apium graveolens) is a heart and metabolic supplement used for lower blood pressure. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Moderate. Celery seed extract is concentrated from Apium graveolens seeds and standardized to phthalides, chiefly 3-n-butylphthalide (3nB), a calcium-channel-modulating vasodilator. A 2025 meta-analysis of 9 RCTs (511 adults) found celery significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (SMD -1.0), diastolic pressure (SMD -0.93), fasting glucose (SMD -0.80) and triglycerides (SMD -1.18), with no clear effect on total, LDL or HDL cholesterol. A triple-blind crossover RCT (~1.34 g/day for 4 weeks) cut systolic pressure ~11 mmHg and diastolic ~8 mmHg in treated hypertensives. However, heterogeneity was very high (I² 77-96%), most trials were small, short, geographically narrow and at moderate-to-high risk of bias, and a 12-week pilot in type-2 diabetes showed no significant between-group cardiometabolic gains. Effects look real but modest and not yet robustly proven; it is an adjunct, not a substitute for prescribed therapy.

Purported Benefits

✓Lower blood pressure
✓Modest blood-sugar reduction
✓Lower triglycerides
✓Mild diuretic effect

Evidence by outcome

The same supplement can be well-proven for one use and unproven for another — here is the human evidence graded outcome by outcome.

OutcomeEvidenceEffectStudies
Blood pressureMeta-analysis and a crossover RCT (~11/8 mmHg drop) show real BP lowering, but heterogeneity is very high (I2 77-96%). Moderate ↑ benefit · moderate 3
Fasting blood glucoseMeta-analysis and small trials show glucose reduction, but a 12-week T2DM RCT found no between-group benefit. Mixed ↔ mixed · small 3
Triglycerides2025 meta-analysis showed TG reduction (SMD -1.18) but with high heterogeneity and small, short trials. Preliminary ↑ benefit · moderate 1
Bleeding risk with anticoagulants (harm)Review flags additive antiplatelet/anticoagulant interaction; caution with blood thinners. Preliminary ⚠ risk 1

Dosing & Compounds

Typical Dose
Standardized seed extract ~150 mg/day (85% 3nB), or whole-seed extract capsules ~1.3 g/day, taken in divided doses.
Active Compounds
3-n-butylphthalide (3nB)ApigeninSedanolideFalcarinol / falcarindiol

Safety & Cautions

Generally well tolerated in short trials, but celery is a common allergen and can trigger reactions from rash to anaphylaxis, plus phototoxic skin sensitivity (psoralens). Its constituents (falcarinol, falcarindiol) inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro, so combine cautiously with warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel or other anticoagulants/antiplatelets, monitoring for bruising or bleeding. Because it can lower blood pressure and glucose, it may compound antihypertensive and antidiabetic drugs (risk of hypotension or hypoglycaemia) and acts as a mild diuretic; avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy (traditionally a uterine stimulant) and in active kidney inflammation. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Celery Seed Extract with any medicine.

Key Studies

Meta-analysis Liu 2025 ✓ Full text
Meta-analysis (9 RCTs, 511 adults): celery lowered SBP (SMD -1.0), DBP (-0.93), fasting glucose (-0.80) and triglycerides (-1.18); I2 77-96%.
RCT Mohsenpour 2023 ✓ PubMed
Double-blind RCT (n=36, T2DM): celery powder 750 mg/day x12wk reduced body-fat % within-group but no significant between-group cardiometabolic benefit.
RCT Shayani Rad 2022 ✓ PubMed
Triple-blind crossover RCT (n=52): celery seed extract 1.34 g/day x4wk cut SBP 141->130 and DBP 92->84 mmHg (p<.001).
RCT Shayani Rad 2022 (safety) ✓ Full text
Same cohort (n=51): extract was safe, also reduced fasting blood sugar and lipids with no adverse liver or kidney effects vs placebo.
RCT Yusni 2018 ✓ PubMed
Controlled trial (n=16 elderly pre-diabetics): celery leaf 250 mg x3/day for 12 days significantly lowered pre-prandial plasma glucose (p=0.01).
Review Alobaidi 2024 ✓ Full text
Narrative review of 7 human trials: 6 showed significant BP falls (SBP 11-19, DBP ~6.5-15 mmHg); credits 3nB-driven vasodilation/diuresis.
Safety Tang 2013 ✓ Full text
Review: anticoagulant/antiplatelet interactions of common herbs incl. celery constituents; flags additive bleeding risk with blood thinners.
7 sources cited · 7 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about Celery Seed Extract

What is Celery Seed Extract used for?

Celery Seed Extract is most often taken for Lower blood pressure, Modest blood-sugar reduction, Lower triglycerides, Mild diuretic effect. Phthalide-rich seed extract studied mainly for blood pressure.

Does Celery Seed Extract work — what does the evidence say?

Moderate evidence. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent. Celery seed extract is concentrated from Apium graveolens seeds and standardized to phthalides, chiefly 3-n-butylphthalide (3nB), a calcium-channel-modulating vasodilator. A 2025 meta-analysis of 9 RCTs (511 adults) found celery significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (SMD -1.0), diastolic pressure (SMD -0.93), fasting glucose (SMD -0.80) and triglycerides (SMD -1.18), with no clear effect on total, LDL or HDL cholesterol. A triple-blind crossover RCT (~1.34 g/day for 4 weeks) cut systolic pressure ~11 mmHg and diastolic ~8 mmHg in treated hypertensives. However, heterogeneity was very high (I² 77-96%), most trials were small, short, geographically narrow and at moderate-to-high risk of bias, and a 12-week pilot in type-2 diabetes showed no significant between-group cardiometabolic gains. Effects look real but modest and not yet robustly proven; it is an adjunct, not a substitute for prescribed therapy.

What is the typical dose of Celery Seed Extract?

Standardized seed extract ~150 mg/day (85% 3nB), or whole-seed extract capsules ~1.3 g/day, taken in divided doses.

Is Celery Seed Extract safe? Any cautions or side effects?

Generally well tolerated in short trials, but celery is a common allergen and can trigger reactions from rash to anaphylaxis, plus phototoxic skin sensitivity (psoralens). Its constituents (falcarinol, falcarindiol) inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro, so combine cautiously with warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel or other anticoagulants/antiplatelets, monitoring for bruising or bleeding. Because it can lower blood pressure and glucose, it may compound antihypertensive and antidiabetic drugs (risk of hypotension or hypoglycaemia) and acts as a mild diuretic; avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy (traditionally a uterine stimulant) and in active kidney inflammation.

How many studies support Celery Seed Extract?

NutriDex cites 7 sources for Celery Seed Extract, graded "Moderate".

Cite this page
APA

Peh, D. (2026). Celery Seed Extract (Apium graveolens): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 26 Jun 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/celery-seed

BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_celery_seed,
  author       = {Peh, Daryl},
  title        = {Celery Seed Extract (Apium graveolens): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
  url          = {https://nutridex.info/s/celery-seed},
  note         = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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