6-Prenylnaringenin-Its Beneficial Biological Effects and Possible Applications

6-Prenylnaringenin (6-PN) is a natural compound which occurs in some plants, but the primary dietary source for humans is beer. This compound exhibits broad and potent antimicrobial, anticancer, and neuroactive properties, and weak estrogenic effects. Currently, hop extracts standardized for 6-PN content (relative to other prenylflavonoids) are commercially available and utilized in the non-hormonal treatment of menopause. It is probable that in the future, 6-PN will be employed in the prevention or treatment of non-hormone-dependent cancers and infectious diseases, as well as a sedative, hypnotic, and analgesic agent. Further research is essential to precisely determine the exact mechanisms of action of 6-PN and, critically, to leverage its unique therapeutic profile. This review synthesizes current evidence, highlighting that 6-PN warrants priority investigation as a core scaffold for novel drug development, particularly as a GABA_A positive allosteric modulator and a synergistic antimicrobial agent, potentially offering a safer alternative to more potent phytoestrogens found in hops.