Hovenia dulcis Thumberg: Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Regulatory Framework for Its Use in the European Union

Abstract

Hovenia dulcis Thunberg is an herbal plant, belonging to the Rhamnaceae family, widespread in west Asia, USA, Australia and New Zealand, but still almost unknown in Western countries. H. dulcis has been described to possess several pharmacological properties, such as antidiabetic, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective, especially in the hangover treatment, validating its use as an herbal remedy in the Chinese Traditional Medicine. These biological properties are related to a variety of secondary metabolites synthesized by the different plant parts. Root, bark and leaves are rich of dammarane-type triterpene saponins; dihydrokaempferol, quercetin, 3,3′,5′,5,7-pentahydroflavone and dihydromyricetin are flavonoids isolated from the seeds; fruits contain mainly dihydroflavonols, such as dihydromyricetin (or ampelopsin) and hovenodulinol, and flavonols such as myricetin and gallocatechin; alkaloids were found in root, barks (frangulanin) and seeds (perlolyrin), and organic acids (vanillic and ferulic) in hot water extract from seeds. Finally, peduncles have plenty of polysaccharides which justify the use as a food supplement. The aim of this work is to review the whole scientific production, with special focus on the last decade, in order to update phytochemistry, biological activities, nutritional properties, toxicological aspect and regulatory classification of H. dulcis extracts for its use in the European Union.

Dihydromyricetin ameliorates vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease by targeting AKT signaling

“…Given the huge medical costs, it is urgent to find effective therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat vascular calcification. DMY, as the most abundant natural flavonoid in vine tea, can also be found in traditional medical plants including Hovenia dulcis and Cedrus deodara and plant-based fruits including grapes and red bayberry [33][34][35]. Several studies showed that DMY had multiple cardiovascular protective effects.…”

A multifaceted review on dihydromyricetin resources, extraction, bioavailability, biotransformation, bioactivities, and food applications with future perspectives to maximize its value

“…Hovenia dulcis (H. dulcis) Thunb, also named as Japanese raisin tree, distributed in China, Japan, Korea, as well as other parts of world, presents another natural resource of DMY [8][9][10], along with Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) G.Don, Pinaceae, a large evergreen coniferous tree that grows on the slopes of western Himalayas in Eastern Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan, India and southwestern Tibet, China.…”

“…In another study, after DMY was orally administered to rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg, the samples of urine, feces, and plasma were collected and the metabolites of DMY were determined based on MS 2 data of UPLC-QTOF-MS. In urine and feces, 8 metabolites of DMY were identified and their transformations were predicted to belong to glucuronidation (9), dehydroxylation (3, 4), reduction (2), methylation (7, 8), or sulfation (10), as well as both dehydroxylation and reduction reactions (11). However, metabolites of DMY were not detected in plasma [66].…”

Changes in Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Polyphenolic-Protein-Polysaccharide Ternary Complexes from Hovenia dulcis after In Vitro Simulated Saliva-Gastrointestinal Digestion

“…Generally, H. dulcis has a long history been used as a traditional Chinese herb for the treatment of liver disease and alcohol poisoning [1,2]. Recently, a numerous number of in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that H. dulcis possesses diverse health-promoting effects, such as anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, antiinflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects [3,4]. Usually, these health-promoting effects are correlated to different bioactive ingredients that exist in H. dulcis, such as polyphenolicprotein-polysaccharide ternary complexes, polysaccharides, polyphenolics, flavonoids, and saponins [1][2][3][5][6][7].…”

“…Recently, a numerous number of in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that H. dulcis possesses diverse health-promoting effects, such as anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, antiinflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects [3,4]. Usually, these health-promoting effects are correlated to different bioactive ingredients that exist in H. dulcis, such as polyphenolicprotein-polysaccharide ternary complexes, polysaccharides, polyphenolics, flavonoids, and saponins [1][2][3][5][6][7]. Especially, polyphenolic-protein-polysaccharide ternary complexes obtained from H. dulcis also possess diverse bioactivities, including anti-oxidant, antiglycation, and anti-diabetic effects [2,5].…”