Deciphering Interactive Associations of Antiviral Activities and Electron-Shuttling Characteristics of Flavonoid Compounds for Antiviral Drug Development

Abstract

In face of the 2020 coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, exploration of feasible medicines and effective medication is of course a top-priority issue to save lives worldwide. This study focused on antiviral properties of flavonoids to decipher synergistic interactions with electron-shuttling characteristics for possible herbal medication in clinical treatment. In fact, the numbers and relative positions of hydroxyl groups all strongly influenced antioxidant activities of flavonoid compounds. In particular, ortho-polyhydroxy benzene-bearing aromatics seemed to trigger antiviral characteristics to be expressed. Prior studies mentioned that ortho and para-polyhydroxy benzene-bearing aromatic structure could exhibit reversible and stable electron-shuttling characteristics. This comparative study suggested the rationale of initiatives for seeking possible methods and strategy of natural medicines with antiviral properties.