Abstract: Phloretin (Pht), a dihydrochalcone compound, is mainly found in apples, pears, strawberries and other plants. Extensive studies have reported that Pht has a wide spectrum of biological activities, such as antibacterial, antiviral, anti-tyrosinase, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and antitumor activity. It holds great promise for application in the fields of foods, medicine and cosmetics. However, the molecular structure of Pht causes strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding, resulting in its poor water solubility and low bioavailability. These problems restrict the application of Pht. In order to expand the scope of application of Pht, it is urgently necessary to improve its solubility. In this context, this article reviews the physiological functions and major solubilization methods of Pht and discusses the problems currently existing in the research and development of Pht. We hope that this review can provide a reference for the future development and utilization of Pht.

Key words: phloretin; water solubility; bioavailability; physiological functions; chemical modification; physical modification