Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2024 May 28;60(6):892.
doi: 10.3390/medicina60060892.

Hesperidin, a Potential Antiviral Agent against SARS-CoV-2: The Influence of Citrus Consumption on COVID-19 Incidence and Severity in China

Adam Kowalczyk  1
Affiliations
Review

Hesperidin, a Potential Antiviral Agent against SARS-CoV-2: The Influence of Citrus Consumption on COVID-19 Incidence and Severity in China

Adam Kowalczyk. Medicina (Kaunas). .

Abstract

This review examines hesperidin, a citrus bioflavonoid, as a potential antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2. The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded an urgent need to search for effective antiviral compounds, including those of natural origin, such as hesperidin. The review provides a comprehensive analysis of the chemical properties, bioavailability and antiviral mechanisms of hesperidin, particularly its potential efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. A review of databases, including PubMedPico, Scopus and Web of Science, was conducted using specific keywords and search criteria in accordance with PRISMA (Re-porting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines between 2020 and 2024. Of the 207 articles, 37 were selected for the review. A key aspect is the correlation of in vitro, in silico and clinical studies on the antiviral effects of hesperidin with epidemiological data on citrus consumption in China during 2020-2024. The importance of integrating laboratory findings with actual consumption patterns to better understand the role of hesperidin in mitigating COVID-19 was highlighted, and an attempt was made to analyze epidemiological studies to examine the association between citrus juice consumption as a source of hesperidin and the incidence and severity of COVID-19 using China as an example. The review identifies consistencies and discrepancies between experimental and epidemiological data, highlighting the need to correlate the two fields to better understand the potential of hesperidin as an agent against SARS-CoV-2. Challenges and limitations in interpreting the results and future research perspectives in this area are discussed. The aim of this comprehensive review is to bridge the gap between experimental studies and epidemiological evidence and to contribute to the understanding of their correlation.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antiviral agents; hesperidin.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flowchart of the included studies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Hesperidin structure and its general metabolic scheme.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Hesperidin’s mechanisms of activity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Pagani I., Ghezzi S., Alberti S., Poli G., Vicenzi E. Origin and evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Eur. Phys. J. Plus. 2023;138:157. doi: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-03719-6. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Brice Y., Morgan L., Kirmani M., Kirmani M., Udeh M.C. COVID-19 vaccine evolution and beyond. Neurosci. Insights. 2023;18:26331055231180543. doi: 10.1177/26331055231180543. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Korber B., Fischer W.M., Gnanakaran S., Yoon H., Theiler J., Abfalterer W., Hengartner N., Giorgi E.E., Bhattacharya T., Foley B., et al. Tracking changes in SARS-CoV-2 spike: Evidence that D614G increases infectivity of the COVID-19 virus. Cell. 2020;182:812–827. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.06.043. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Polack F.P., Thomas S.J., Kitchin N., Absalon J., Gurtman A., Lockhart S., Perez J.L., Pérez Marc G., Moreira E.D., Zerbini C., et al. Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 MRNA COVID-19 vaccine. N. Engl. J. Med. 2020;383:2603–2615. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2034577. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Dagan N., Barda N., Kepten E., Miron O., Perchik S., Katz M.A., Hernán M.A., Lipsitch M., Reis B., Balicer R.D. BNT162b2 MRNA COVID-19 vaccine in a nationwide mass vaccination setting. N. Engl. J. Med. 2021;384:1412–1423. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2101765. - DOI - PMC - PubMed