Advances on Resources, Biosynthesis Pathway, Bioavailability, Bioactivity, and Pharmacology of Robustaflavone

Robustaflavone, a type of biflavonoid, is found in various plants, including Rhus succedanea, Garcinia multiflora, Ochna schweinfurthiana, Dietes bicolor, and Selaginella species, among others. In recent years, the utilization of robustaflavone resources has significantly increased due to advancements in natural product extraction methods. Moreover, there are well-established biotechnological approaches for its production. Robustaflavone, composed of two units of apigenin (5,7,4′-trihydroxyflavone), has been extensively characterized using techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), and X-ray crystallography. Its pharmacological activities include anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-allergic, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity effects. Notably, robustaflavone has shown promising activity against various viruses, such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Herpes viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2), and respiratory viruses (Influenza A, Influenza B). As a result, robustaflavone holds promising prospects in the fields of natural product-based therapies, pharmacological research and drug development. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview on this molecule that serves as a theoretical basis for future research and development in robustaflavone.