Flavonoid-Pectin Conjugates: Towards Broad Scope Therapeutic Agents

Reviewing research achievements concerning the bioactivity of citrus flavonoid-pectin conjugates since their introduction in 2014, this study suggests that the use of water soluble and biocompatible citrus pectin to chemically bind and deliver citrus flavonoids offers a promising synergistic solution to the poor bioavailability of citrus flavonoids that so far limited the uptake of these biomolecules in the development of new pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products for the treatment and prevention of disease. The approach, in principle, merges the powerful and broad scope bioactivity of citrus flavonoids with that of pectin. The synthesis of flavonoid-pectin conjugates may employ synthetic organic chemistry, enzymatic, free radical or cavitation-based routes.