Myricetin and its glycosides are important flavonols commonly found in plants, and they are natural organic compounds with diverse pharmacological activities. Numerous studies have demonstrated that myricetin and its glycosides are strong antioxidants that have great potential in preventing, alleviating and assisting the treatment of chronic non-infectious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, myricetin and its glycosides also have antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, liver protection and other pharmacological activities. Myricetin contains more hydroxyl groups in the parent ring structure than other flavonoids, so myricetin and its glycosides have stronger pharmacological activities than other flavonols or flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol. Therefore, myricetin and its glycosides have great development and application prospects. In this paper, the classification and distribution of myricetin and its glycosides, their pharmacological activity and mechanism, as well as comparison with other flavonoids were reviewed. In addition, limitations of the current research and application of myricetin and its glycosides were analyzed, and the further studies on pharmacological activities as well as their dose-activity relationship, structure-activity relationship, chemical modification, biosynthesis and application prospects of myricetin and its glycosides were discussed and proposed.
Keywords: distribution; mechanism; myricetin and its glycosids; pharmacological activity.