Methylation and Subsequent Glycosylation of Flavonoids: Koirala Effect

Flavonoids are ubiquitous plant secondary metabolites and have been recognized to be potent pharmaceutical agents by several research groups. Methylation of the flavonoids via theirs frees hydroxyl groups or carbon atom dramatically increases their metabolic stability and enhances the membrane transport, leading to facilitated absorption and greatly increased oral bioavailability. Glycosylation usually improves the solubility, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (SADME properties) of the drugs. While these results sound promising and worthy of further investigations, we speculate that these compounds warrant further investigation in vivo as potential new therapeutic agents to successfully implement our new methodology of double modifications and its effects thereafter.