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7,8-Dihydroxyflavone

7,8-DHF is a natural flavonoid which can reach the brain and activate a receptor (TrkB) that promotes neuronal growth. Some animal evidence suggests that 7,8-DHF may have some cognitive and motor benefits and may be nootropic, but no human evidence for these claims exists to date.

Quick Answer

What it is

7,8-DHF is a natural flavonoid which can reach the brain and activate a receptor (TrkB) that promotes neuronal growth. Some animal evidence suggests that 7,8-DHF may have some cognitive and motor benefits and may be nootropic, but no human evidence for these claims exists to date.

Key findings

  • Grade C: Cognitive Function & Memory
  • Grade C: Retinal Ganglion Cell Protection
  • Grade C: Alzheimer's Disease Pathology

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone

Quick Facts: 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone

  • Best Evidence:Grade C
  • Conditions Studied:7
  • Research Outcomes:15
  • Key Effect:Age-Associated Memory Impairment and Cognitive Decline (AAMCD)
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B0
C4
D11
7 conditions · 15 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
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C
Cognitive Function & Memory
In multiple rodent models, 7,8-DHF consistently improved spatial memory, long-term memory, and learning. Benefits observed in wildtype mice as well as models of alcohol-induced, sevoflurane-induced, and vascular dementia-related cognitive impairment, with effects mediated through TrkB/BDNF signaling.
moderate↑Improves
C
Retinal Ganglion Cell Protection
In multiple animal and ex vivo models, 7,8-DHF protected retinal ganglion cells against glaucoma-induced deficits, ischemia-reperfusion injury, chronic intermittent hypoxia, and inherited blindness. Oral administration showed protection via the gut-retina axis and ferroptosis inhibition, with consistent TrkB-mediated neuroprotective effects across models.
moderate↑Improves
C
Dopaminergic Neuron Survival
In rodent Parkinson's disease models, 7,8-DHF consistently protected nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons across MPTP-induced, rotenone-induced, and alpha-synuclein transgenic models. Also ameliorated mitochondrial impairment and motor dysfunction, suggesting broad dopaminergic neuroprotective potential via TrkB activation.
moderate↑Improves
D
Insulin Resistance & Metabolic Markers
In rodent models, 7,8-DHF alleviated endoplasmic reticulum stress in diet-induced metabolic syndrome, attenuated adipocyte-macrophage inflammatory crosstalk and insulin resistance, and showed sex-dependent metabolic effects associated with gut microbiome alterations. Metabolic protection appeared to require an intact gut microbiome.
small↓Improves
D
Depressive Symptoms
In rodent models, 7,8-DHF and its O-methylated metabolite reversed depressive symptoms in chronic mild stress paradigms and displayed antidepressant activity via TrkB receptor activation. Effects consistent with BDNF-TrkB signaling role in depression, but limited to animal behavioral assays.
moderate↓Improves
D
Stroke & Ischemic Brain Injury
In mouse stroke models, 7,8-DHF decreased infarct volumes. In vitro, it protected neurons against oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced apoptosis and activated the TrkB/Akt pathway. Also accelerated recovery in a rat spinal cord lateral hemisection model.
moderate↓Improves
D
Epilepsy Development
In rodent models, low-dose 7,8-DHF administered after status epilepticus prevented subsequent epilepsy development. However, a separate study found 7,8-DHF potentiated ongoing epileptiform activity in mouse brain slices, indicating potentially opposing acute versus chronic effects that require further investigation.
small↓Worsens
D
Neurodevelopmental Disorder Symptoms
In a Fragile X syndrome animal model, early 7,8-DHF administration ameliorated synaptic and behavioral deficits via the BDNF-TrkB pathway. A separate study investigated effects on offspring behavior following maternal immune activation. Both studies suggest potential for neurodevelopmental conditions but evidence is very limited.
small↓Improves
D
Hepatoprotection
In a rodent model, 7,8-DHF protected against acetaminophen-induced liver injury through activating PI3K/Akt/NRF2/GPX4-mediated ferroptosis suppression. This represents a single recent preclinical study.
small↑Improves
C
Alzheimer's Disease Pathology
In AD mouse models, 7,8-DHF reversed memory deficits, reduced BACE1 and beta-amyloid levels, increased dendritic spine density, and reversed oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Consistent neuroprotective effects observed across multiple AD rodent models including scopolamine-induced and ICV-STZ sporadic AD models.
moderate↓Improves
D
Antioxidant Defense
In cell culture and animal models, 7,8-DHF demonstrated antioxidant effects through HO-1 expression activation, Nrf2 signaling, and caspase inhibition. Protected endothelial cells and neurons against H2O2 and high-glucose-induced oxidative damage. Also reduced lipid peroxidation in a phenylketonuria model.
small↑Improves
D
Cardiac Function
In rodent and cell models, 7,8-DHF alleviated cardiac fibrosis via circadian signal restoration, counteracted cardiac hypertrophy through AMPK activation, rescued rotenone-induced cardiomyocyte cytotoxicity, and attenuated cisplatin-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via the p53/Nrf2 pathway.
small↑Improves
D
Bone Density
In ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis models, 7,8-DHF modulated bone formation and resorption and ameliorated bone loss, including via PI3K/AKT/NRF2 pathway in BMSCs. However, one study found 7,8-DHF impaired fracture healing in mice, suggesting context-dependent effects on bone metabolism.
small↑Improves
D
Anxiety
In rodent models, 7,8-DHF alleviated anxiety-like behavior induced by chronic alcohol exposure via TrkB signaling in the amygdala. Also enhanced fear extinction and emotional learning in separate rodent studies, suggesting anxiolytic potential through neurotrophic mechanisms.
small↓Improves
D
Motor Neuron Degeneration (ALS)
In SOD1-G93A transgenic mice (ALS model), the 7,8-DHF prodrug R13 preserved motor performance by improving mitochondrial function. This represents a single preclinical study in one ALS mouse model.
small↓Worsens

Research Citations (48)

7,8-Dihydroxyflavone protects acetaminophen induced liver injury through activating PI3K/Akt/NRF2/GPX4 mediated ferroptosis suppression
(2026)
PMID: 41173313
Oral 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone Protects Retinal Ganglion Cells by Modulating the Gut-Retina Axis and Inhibiting Ferroptosis via the Indoleacrylic Acid-AhR-ALDH1A3-FSP1 Pathway
(2025)
PMID: 40365730
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone attenuates cisplatin-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction via the p53/Nrf2 pathway
(2025)
PMID: 40992637
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone ameliorates cognitive impairment induced by repeated neonatal sevoflurane exposures in mice through increasing tau O-GlcNAcylation
(2024)
PMID: 37984484
7, 8-dihydroxyflavone Ameliorates Cholinergic Dysfunction, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Apoptosis in a Rat Model of Vascular Dementia
(2024)
PMID: 38300457
7,8-DHF inhibits BMSC oxidative stress via the TRKB/PI3K/AKT/NRF2 pathway to improve symptoms of postmenopausal osteoporosis
(2024)
PMID: 39155025
7,8-dihydroxyflavone displayed antioxidant effect through activating HO-1 expression and inhibiting caspase-3/PARP activation in RAW264.7 cells
(2024)
PMID: 38053484
7,8-dihydroxyflavone reduces lipid peroxidation, proinflammatory cytokines, and mediators in chemically induced phenylketonuria model
(2024)
PMID: 39392024
Investigating 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone to combat maternal immune activation effects on offspring gene expression and behaviour
(2024)
PMID: 38950841
7,8-dihydroxyflavone enhances long-term spatial memory and alters brain volume in wildtype mice
(2023)
PMID: 37008453

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