What is Myricetin?
Myricetin is flavonol, consisting of 3-hydroxyflavone backbone and 6 hydroxyl groups. Pure myricetin is a yellow-beige powder crystalline powder. Myricetin mainly occurs in nature in the form of glycosides.
Distribution
Myricetin is found in several foods such as walnuts, onions, berries, herbs and red grapes.
Health Benefits of Myricetin
Myricetin exerts a wide variety of biological effects, including antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities. Reports indicate that myricetin has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties and may improve bone-health.
Anticancer
Myricetin has strong anticancer and antimutagenic properties, but it has been shown to promote mutagenesis with the use of the Ames Test. Although the anticancer property of myricetin has been attributed mainly to its antioxidant action, it has additional protective mechanisms.
Anti-inflammatory
Myricetin has been shown to inhibit the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a cytokine that promotes the inflammatory response and is involved in inflammatory diseases. Myricetin glucuronide is an inhibitor of lipoxygenase 5-LOX and cyclooxygenases COX-1 and Cox-2.
Heart health
Myricetin and other flavonoids may improve heart health by prevening LDL oxidation and reducing the uptake of oxidized LDL by macrophages.
Diabetes
Studies showed that myricetin inhibits the uptake of methylglucose by adipocytes, reduces oxidative injury in diabetes related bone diseases and reduces glucose plasma level in diabetic rats.
Brain health
Myricetin may offer benefits to person with brain diseases such as Parkinson and Alzheimer's. Myricetin inhibits ROS production caused by glutamate and reduces glutamate-induced activation of caspase-3. Myricetin restored dopamine level in laboratory animals with induced Parkinsonism. Myricetin may also inhibit beta-amyloid fibril formation in Alzheimer patients.
Synonyms
3,3',4',5,5',7-hexahydroxyflavone, Cannabiscetin, Myricetol, Myricitin
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