Exploring myricetin: A comprehensive review of its pharmacological potential, formulation strategies, and clinical outlook

Abstract

Flavonoids, a diverse group of polyphenolic compounds found abundantly in fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants, are renowned for their wide-ranging health benefits and therapeutic potential. Among them, myricetin, a naturally occurring flavonol, has emerged as a bioactive compound of significant pharmacological interest. This review provides a consolidated overview of myricetin, beginning with its methods of isolation from various plant sources, such as Diospyros kaki, Myrica rubra, and Rosa canina, and a detailed account of its in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Despite its promising bioactivities, the poor physicochemical properties of myricetin, such as its low aqueous solubility, stability, and limited bioavailability, pose substantial barriers to its clinical application. To address these challenges, this review highlights recent advancements in nanoformulation strategies, such as liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanostructured lipid carriers, polymeric nanoparticles, nanogels, micelles, and self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems, that enhance the pharmacokinetic profile and therapeutic efficacy of these methods. Furthermore, toxicological evaluations are discussed to assess its safety, supported by findings from preclinical studies. Additionally, the review summarizes the current status of clinical trials and highlights recent advancements in intellectual property through an analysis of granted patents related to myricetin. Notably, there is currently no review that comprehensively integrates all these aspects of myricetin. This study seeks to address this void by providing a unified and current perspective on the progression of myricetin from being a natural bioactive compound to being a viable candidate for therapeutic development.

Keywords: Clinical trials; Flavonoids; Flavonol; Myricetin; Nanoformulation; Preclinical.