Role of Dietary Flavonoids in Preventing COVID-19 Infection and Other Infectious Diseases: A Mini Review

Abstract Flavonoids are a large group of naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds that are almost universally present in various plant parts such as fruits, berries, leaves, and tubers. These compounds are synthesized in plants in reaction to environmental stressors such as microbial infections. The antioxidant properties in these flavonoids provide us with numerous health benefits. They can be extracted from said natural sources via methods such as maceration and boiling all the way to advanced methods such as microwaves and ultrasounds. Numerous studies have been conducted to research the protective role that flavonoids can play in preventing infectious diseases in humans. The present modalities of treating such infectious diseases rely solely on chemotherapeutic agents and adjunctive therapies such as palliative and supportive care. These chemotherapeutic agents, primarily antibiotics, cause a degeneration of our immunity and an increased susceptibly to several other diseases. Thus, it is crucial that our methods in dealing with infections focus on prevention. This can be achieved by strengthening our immune system, which is the primary line of defense against such diseases. Flavonoids can help boost our immunity, fight infections, and decrease the incidence of antibiotic resistance. Hence, these natural compounds are being largely studied and used as nutraceuticals to supplement our daily diet and successfully reduce the occurrence of major infectious diseases in our body.