Hesperidin

Hesperidin is a naturally occurring flavanone glycoside primarily found in the rinds and membranes of citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits [4, 6]. It serves as a major bioactive component in citrus-derived nutraceuticals and traditional herbal medicines, known for its multifaceted biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasoprotective effects [4, 7]. Although often discussed in therapeutic contexts, Hesperidin is a ligand or drug candidate rather than a biological target such as an enzyme or receptor. At the molecular level, hesperidin is metabolized by intestinal microbiota into its aglycone form, hesperetin, which modulates various signaling pathways such as AMPK and PPAR to regulate lipid and glucose metabolism [9, 10]. It suppresses chronic inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway and reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6 [8]. Clinically, hesperidin is investigated for its potential in managing cardiovascular disorders, metabolic syndrome, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, and it has recently gained attention for its potential to interfere with ACE2-Spike protein binding in viral research [1, 9, 12].

Other names

Hesperetin 7-rutinosideCirantinHesperetin-7-O-rutinosideHesperidoside

Hesperidin exerts its effects through several pleiotropic mechanisms: it acts as a direct antioxidant by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an indirect antioxidant by upregulating enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) [4, 7]. It suppresses inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, leading to reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 [4, 8]. Furthermore, it regulates metabolic homeostasis by activating AMPK and PPAR signaling pathways to improve glucose and lipid metabolism [10]. It also demonstrates antiviral potential by potentially interfering with the binding of viral proteins (e.g., SARS-CoV-2 spike protein) to the ACE2 receptor [1].