molecules Review Hovenia dulcis Thumberg: Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Regulatory Framework for Its Use in the European Union Gianluca Sferrazza 1,* , Gloria Brusotti 2,3,* , Manuela Zonfrillo 1, Caterina Temporini 2, Sara Tengattini 2 , Monica Bononi 3,4 , Fernando Tateo 3,4 , Enrica Calleri 2,3 and Pasquale Pierimarchi 1 1 Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy;
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[email protected] (G.B.) 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, Citation: Sferrazza, G.; Brusotti, G.; anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective, especially in the hangover treatment, Zonfrillo, M.; Temporini, C.; validating its use as an herbal remedy in the Chinese Traditional Medicine.