Dihydromyricetin in the management of diabetes and its complications: a narrative review

Abstract

Managing diabetes mellitus (DM) and its long-term complications remains a major global health challenge. Dihydromyricetin (DHM), a natural flavonoid abundant in Ampelopsis grossedentata and Hovenia dulcis, has attracted increasing attention for its multi-target anti-diabetic properties. Growing evidence indicates that DHM improves glucose metabolism, alleviates oxidative stress and inflammation, regulates autophagy and cell death, and exerts beneficial effects in DM and a range of related complications, including diabetic nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, cognitive impairment, and wound healing impairment, and other related complications. Overall, this review provides an overview of preclinical research on DHM in DM and its main complications, emphasizing its therapeutic benefits and underlying molecular mechanisms. Although DHM is promising, future research should improve its delivery, clarify its mechanisms, and carry out clinical trials to enable therapeutic use.