Antiviral activity of flavones and potentiation by ascorbate.

J Gen Virol 1988 Jul;69 ( Pt 7):1749-51 (ISSN: 0022-1317)

Vrijsen R; Everaert L; Boeye A

Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
We compared the anti-poliovirus activities of three flavones, quercetin, luteolin and 3-methylquercetin, which differ only at ring position 3. 3-Methylquercetin was the most potent compound. Quercetin exhibited antiviral activity only when protected against oxidative degradation by ascorbate. The antiviral activity of luteolin was comparable to that of ascorbate-stabilized quercetin.