Ampelopsin Explained

Ampelopsin, also known as dihydromyricetin and DHM, when purported as an effective ingredient in supplements and other tonics, is a flavanonol, a type of flavonoid. It is extracted from the Japanese raisin tree and found in Ampelopsis species japonica, megalophylla, and grossedentata; Cercidiphyllum japonicum; Hovenia dulcis; Rhododendron cinnabarinum; some Pinus species; and some Cedrus species,^[1] as well as in Salix sachalinensis.^[2]

Hovenia dulcis has been used in traditional Japanese, Chinese, and Korean medicines to treat fever, parasitic infection, as a laxative, and a treatment of liver diseases, and as a hangover treatment.^[3] Methods have been developed to extract ampelopsin on a larger scale, and laboratory research has been conducted with the compound to see if it might be useful as a drug in any of the conditions for which the parent plant has been traditionally used.

Research

Research suggests that DHM protects against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via stimulation of the SIRT1 pathway.^[4]

In a trial of 60 patients with "nonalcoholic fatty liver disease," dihydromyricetin improved glucose and lipid metabolism and yielded potentially beneficial anti-inflammatory effects.^[5]

A study of rats demonstrated pharmacological properties of DHM which suggest it would be a therapeutic candidate to treat alcohol use disorders.^[6]

Dihydromyricetin shows poor bioavailability which limits its potential medicinal applications.^[7]

Additional research is required before claims of human efficacy and application, necessary dosage, and solutions to poor bioavailability, are met with scientific validation.

Applications

Ampelopsin is a versatile compound with a range of applications in health, wellness, and cosmetics, including:

• Anti-Alcohol Intoxication: DHM is widely used in hangover remedies due to its ability to accelerate alcohol breakdown in the liver and mitigate alcohol-induced damage.^[8]
• Liver Protection: It helps in protecting the liver from toxins and promoting liver health.^[9]
• Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory: DHM has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to its potential in preventing and treating chronic diseases.^[10]
• Cardiovascular Health: Research indicates that DHM may lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels, benefiting heart health.^[11]
• Cosmetic Applications: DHM is used in skincare products for its ability to protect skin from UV-induced damage and aging.^[12]

Notes and References

1. Book: Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines – Molecular Structures, Pharmacological Activities, Natural Sources and Applications: Vol. 1: Isolated Compounds A-C . Springer Science & Business Media . 2011-02-21 . 978-3-642-16735-5 . Jiaju . Zhou . Guirong . Xie . Xinjian . Yan . 123.
2. Tahara S . A journey of twenty-five years through the ecological biochemistry of flavonoids . Biosci Biotechnol Biochem . 71 . 6 . 1387–404 . June 2007 . 17587669 . 10.1271/bbb.70028 . 35670587. free .
3. Hyun TK, Eom SH, Yu CY, Roitsch T . Hovenia dulcis--an Asian traditional herb . Planta Med . 76 . 10 . 943–9 . July 2010 . 20379955 . 10.1055/s-0030-1249776 . free.
4. Christidi E, Brunham LR . Regulated cell death pathways in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity . Cell Death Dis . 12 . 4 . 339 . April 2021 . 33795647 . 8017015 . 10.1038/s41419-021-03614-x .
5. Chen S, Zhao X, Wan J, Ran L, Qin Y, Wang X, Gao Y, Shu F, Zhang Y, Liu P, Zhang Q, Zhu J, Mi M . Dihydromyricetin improves glucose and lipid metabolism and exerts anti-inflammatory effects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized controlled trial . Pharmacol Res . 99 . 74–81 . September 2015 . 26032587 . 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.05.009 .
6. Shen Y, Lindemeyer AK, Gonzalez C, Shao XM, Spigelman I, Olsen RW, Liang J . Dihydromyricetin as a novel anti-alcohol intoxication medication . J Neurosci . 32 . 1 . 390–401 . January 2012 . 22219299 . 3292407 . 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4639-11.2012 .
7. Li H, Li Q, Liu Z, Yang K, Chen Z, Cheng Q, Wu L . The Versatile Effects of Dihydromyricetin in Health . Evid Based Complement Alternat Med . 2017 . 1053617 . 2017 . 28947908 . 5602609 . 10.1155/2017/1053617 . free .
8. Web site: Dihydromyricetin . Stanford Chemicals . July 7, 2024.
9. Chen . Jingnan . Wang . Xitong . 2021 . Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications of dihydromyricetin in liver disease . Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy . 142 . 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111927. 34339914 . free .
10. Wen . Chaoyu . Zhang . Fan . 2023 . Dihydromyricetin alleviates intestinal inflammation by changing intestinal microbial metabolites and inhibiting the expression of the MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway . Animal Research and One Health. 1 . 2 . 219–232 . 10.1002/aro2.21. free .
11. Zhang . S . Fan . L . 2022 . Dihydromyricetin ameliorates osteogenic differentiation of human aortic valve interstitial cells by targeting c-KIT/interleukin-6 signaling pathway . Frontiers in Pharmacology. 13 . 10.3389/fphar.2022.932092. free . 36003494 . 9393384 .
12. patent . EP . 2356980A2.