Dihydromyricetin: Overview and Anti-inflammatory Mechanism

Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a flavonoid mainly derived from Nekemias grossedentata (Hand.-Mazz.) J.Wen and Z.L.Nie (N.grossedentata).

Pharmacological effects

Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a kind of flavonoid small molecule. The current study on DHM suggests that, DHM has multiple pharmacological activities, containing anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, anti-bacterium, liver protection and cardiovascular protection.

Anti-inflammatory Mechanism of DHM

Some studies have confirmed that DHM is closely related to palmitic acid (PA)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Hu et al. have clarified that DHM ameliorated pyroptosis by activating the Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) signaling pathway. DHM inhibited the activation of NLRP-3 by down-regulating mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PA-induced HUVECs (Hu et al., 2018). DHM treatment inhibited the activation of caspase-1 and the expression of IL-1β in the brain of AD mice. This suggested that DHM inhibited the activation of the NLRP-3 signaling pathway to improve the inflammatory response in AD (Liu et al., 2019b). In addition, DHM improved pyroptosis caused by NLRP-3 in chronic liver injury mice (Cheng et al., 2020).¹

Hepatotoxicity

DHM has not been subjected to many prospective trials of safety but is widely described as being well tolerated and without side effects. There have been no clinical case reports of clinically apparent liver injury with jaundice attributed to DHM, and it is not mentioned or listed in large case series or systematic reviews of the literature on herbal and dietary supplement induced liver injury. Thus, at this time, there is little evidence that DHM in typical oral doses or as a component of herbal products or teas causes clinically apparent liver injury in humans.

Reference

1. Sun Y, Liu S, Yang S, et al. Mechanism of Dihydromyricetin on Inflammatory Diseases. Front Pharmacol. 2022; 12: 794563.

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