Etrog Citron (Citrus medica) as a Novel Source of Antiviral Agents: Overview of Its Bioactive Phytochemicals and Delivery Approaches

Arik Dahan; Ludmila Yarmolinsky; Faina Nakonechny; Olga Semenova; Boris Khalfin; Sigal Fleisher-Berkovich; Shimon Ben-Shabat

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics17091173

Etrog Citron (Citrus medica) as a Novel Source of Antiviral Agents: Overview of Its Bioactive Phytochemicals and Delivery Approaches

Arik Dahan, Ludmila Yarmolinsky, Faina Nakonechny, Olga Semenova, Boris Khalfin, Sigal Fleisher-Berkovich, Shimon Ben-Shabat

Department of Chemical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

The recent COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significant challenge of insufficient antiviral pharmacological options. Edible plants offer a promising avenue for developing novel antiviral drugs. Etrog citron (Citrus medica L.), which is a valuable edible and medicinal plant, contains various antiviral phytochemicals, mainly flavonoids, coumarins, and terpenes. However, the therapeutic application of these compounds remains limited by factors such as poor solubility, limited bioavailability, and unclear mechanisms of action. The aim of the present article is to offer a comprehensive analysis of the antiviral phytochemicals extracted from various parts of Citrus medica, emphasizing their mode of action and delivery strategies that may allow turning these compounds into new antiviral drugs.

Original language	English
Article number	1173
Journal	Pharmaceutics
Volume	17
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17091173
State	Published - Sep 2025

Keywords

Citrus medica
antiviral properties
coumarins
etrog citron
flavonoids
terpenes

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10.3390/pharmaceutics17091173

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abstract = "The recent COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significant challenge of insufficient antiviral pharmacological options. Edible plants offer a promising avenue for developing novel antiviral drugs. Etrog citron (Citrus medica L.), which is a valuable edible and medicinal plant, contains various antiviral phytochemicals, mainly flavonoids, coumarins, and terpenes. However, the therapeutic application of these compounds remains limited by factors such as poor solubility, limited bioavailability, and unclear mechanisms of action. The aim of the present article is to offer a comprehensive analysis of the antiviral phytochemicals extracted from various parts of Citrus medica, emphasizing their mode of action and delivery strategies that may allow turning these compounds into new antiviral drugs.",

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AU - Yarmolinsky, Ludmila

AU - Nakonechny, Faina

AU - Semenova, Olga

AU - Khalfin, Boris

AU - Fleisher-Berkovich, Sigal

AU - Ben-Shabat, Shimon

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AB - The recent COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significant challenge of insufficient antiviral pharmacological options. Edible plants offer a promising avenue for developing novel antiviral drugs. Etrog citron (Citrus medica L.), which is a valuable edible and medicinal plant, contains various antiviral phytochemicals, mainly flavonoids, coumarins, and terpenes. However, the therapeutic application of these compounds remains limited by factors such as poor solubility, limited bioavailability, and unclear mechanisms of action. The aim of the present article is to offer a comprehensive analysis of the antiviral phytochemicals extracted from various parts of Citrus medica, emphasizing their mode of action and delivery strategies that may allow turning these compounds into new antiviral drugs.

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Etrog Citron (Citrus medica) as a Novel Source of Antiviral Agents: Overview of Its Bioactive Phytochemicals and Delivery Approaches

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Keywords

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