TABLE 2.

Proposed deglucuronidation-based antiviral mechanism.

Stage A—Infection by any of several virus species induces inflammation

↓

Stage B—Flavonoid aglycones are glucuronidated prior to arrival in the bloodstream

↓

Stage C—Neutrophils and macrophages are attracted to site(s) of inflammation

↓

Stage D—β-glucuronidase is expressed by neutrophils and macrophages

↓

Stage E—Serum flavonoid glucuronides are deglucuronidated (“deconjugated”) by β-glucuronidase at site of inflammation

↓

Stage F—Flavonoid aglycones diffuse through cell membrane

↓

Stage G—Flavonoid aglycones cause non-selective (and non-specific) inhibition within the cell—interfering with both ordinary cellular processes and the etiological source of inflammation (such as viral replication)