Toward the bioactive potential of myricitrin in food production: state-of-the-art green extraction and trends in biosynthesis

Myricitrin is a member of flavonols, natural phenolic compounds extracted from plant resources. It has gained great attention for various biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, as well as cardio-/neuro-/hepatoprotective activities. These effects have been demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo models, making myricitrin a favorable candidate for the exploitation of novel functional foods with potential protective or preventive effects against diseases. This review summarized the health benefits of myricitrin and attempted to uncover its action mechanism, expecting to provide a theoretical basis for their application. Despite enormous bioactive potential of myricitrin, low production, high cost, and environmental damage caused by extracting it from plant resources greatly constrain its practical application. Fortunately, innovative, green, and sustainable extraction techniques are emerging to extract myricitrin, which function as alternatives to conventional techniques. Additionally, biosynthesis based on synthetic biology plays an essential role in industrial-scale manufacturing, which has not been reported for myricitrin exclusively. The construction of microbial cell factories is absolutely an appealing and competitive option to produce myricitrin in large-scale manufacturing. Consequently, state-of-the-art green extraction techniques and trends in biosynthesis were reviewed and discussed to endow an innovative perspective for the large-scale production of myricitrin.

Automated summary

Myricitrin, a flavonol compound extracted from plant resources, has shown great potential for various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. However, its practical application is constrained by low production, high cost, and environmental damage caused by extraction. Fortunately, innovative and sustainable extraction techniques as well as biosynthesis based on synthetic biology are emerging as alternatives to conventional techniques, providing new perspectives for large-scale production of myricitrin.