Supplement
Myricetin is a flavonoid, a plant pigment found in foods such as berries and tea, that acts as an antioxidant in test-tube experiments. The evidence is very limited, but in lab studies it slowed the growth of several types of cancer cells and pushed bone-building cells to mature. Nearly all of this work used cells or animals, and no human trials have tested these effects, so what it does in people remains unknown.
Sources: PMID 17693661; PMID 17113042
- Updated
- How we grade
- 23 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade D
- Conditions studied
- 4
- Outcomes
- 8
- Graded outcomes
- 0008
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer Cell Proliferation Multiple in vitro studies demonstrate myricetin inhibits neoplastic cell transformation via MEK1 and JAK1 targeting, induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells through PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibition, triggers apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells via BRCA1-GADD45, and inhibits breast and lung cancer proliferation via MARK4. All evidence is preclinical with no human trials. | Changes; see studies | Moderate effect | 9 studies | |||
Studies that measured cancer cell proliferation
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| Inflammation In vitro studies show myricetin inhibits TNF-alpha-induced inflammation in A549 cells via the SIRT1/NF-kappaB pathway. Additional preclinical evidence supports broad anti-inflammatory activity. No human trials have confirmed these effects. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 4 studies | |||
| Gut Microbiota Composition A single animal study found that myricetin and its lactose sodium salt (M10) modified gut microbiota composition in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis. No human studies have evaluated these effects. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
| 5-Alpha Reductase Activity An in vitro study evaluating polyphenol structure-activity relationships found myricetin inhibits human 5-alpha reductases. Clinical relevance for conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia or androgenic alopecia remains unstudied in humans. | Changes; see studies | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
Studies that measured 5-alpha reductase activity | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone Health In vitro and animal studies show myricetin induces osteoblast differentiation through the BMP-2/p38 MAPK pathway and may inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Preclinical models suggest anti-osteoporotic effects, but no human clinical trials have been conducted. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured bone health
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Alzheimer’s Disease
- Neuroprotection: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neuroprotection In vitro and animal studies suggest myricetin may protect against neurodegeneration by modifying amyloid-beta conformation, interfering with secretase activity, and reducing post-ischemic brain damage. Identified as a candidate molecule for Alzheimer's disease research, but no human data exist. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured neuroprotection
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Cardiovascular Health
- Cardiovascular Protection: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular Protection Preclinical studies show myricetin protects cardiomyocytes from LPS-induced injury in cell models. Review articles summarize protective effects against cardiovascular disease markers in animal and in vitro systems. No human clinical trials have evaluated cardiovascular endpoints. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured cardiovascular protection | ||||||
Antioxidant Status
- Antioxidant Status: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant Status In vitro studies demonstrate myricetin has antioxidant properties, though it can switch to prooxidant behavior in the presence of copper(II) ions. Its antioxidant capacity is well-characterized biochemically but unvalidated in human studies. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured antioxidant status
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Key findings
- Cancer Cell ProliferationChanges; see studies
- Bone HealthImproves (the measure goes up)
- NeuroprotectionImproves (the measure goes up)
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- Grade D
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Studies cited
23 studies from PubMed
- Myricetin inhibits breast and lung cancer cells proliferation via inhibiting MARK4.
- Myricetin as a Promising Molecule for the Treatment of Post-Ischemic Brain Neurodegeneration.
- Some Candidate Drugs for Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's Disease.
- Myricetin and M10, a myricetin-3-O-β-d-lactose sodium salt, modify composition of gut microbiota in mice with ulcerative colitis.
- Myricetin: A review of the most recent research.
- Myricetin induces apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling in human colon cancer cells.
- Myricetin inhibits TNF-α-induced inflammation in A549 cells via the SIRT1/NF-κB pathway.
- Myricetin bioactive effects: moving from preclinical evidence to potential clinical applications.
- Myricetin Exerts its Apoptotic Effects on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells through Evoking the BRCA1-GADD45 Pathway.
- Current Pharmacological Trends on Myricetin.
- The Protective Effects of Myricetin against Cardiovascular Disease.
- A Switch between Antioxidant and Prooxidant Properties of the Phenolic Compounds Myricetin, Morin, 3',4'-Dihydroxyflavone, Taxifolin and 4-Hydroxy-Coumarin in the Presence of Copper(II) Ions.
- Anti-tumor effects and associated molecular mechanisms of myricetin.
- Myricetin protects cardiomyocytes from LPS-induced injury.
- The natural flavonoid myricetin inhibits gastric H(+), K(+)-ATPase.
- Myricetin: A Dietary Molecule with Diverse Biological Activities.
- Molecular mechanisms underlying anticancer effects of myricetin.
- Myricetin directly targets JAK1 to inhibit cell transformation.
- Multifunction of myricetin on A beta: neuroprotection via a conformational change of A beta and reduction of A beta via the interference of secretases.
- Myricetin induces human osteoblast differentiation through bone morphogenetic protein-2/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.
- Myricetin is a novel natural inhibitor of neoplastic cell transformation and MEK1.
- Structure-activity relationships for inhibition of human 5alpha-reductases by polyphenols.
- Biological effects of myricetin.