Flavonoids and multi-target action: a systematized analysis of patents on health applications and mechanisms of action

Flavonoids are one of the most promising classes of plant-derived biomolecules due to their ability to modulate multiple biological pathways associated with human diseases. These properties give them high therapeutic and biotechnological potential, making them strategic targets for the development of innovative pharmaceutical technologies, including molecular engineering strategies and technological resources aimed at chemopharmaceutical optimization. Patents represent important tools for visualizing the innovative and technological potential and opportunities associated with their therapeutic use. Thus, this study aimed to map and analyze, through patent documents, the therapeutic and molecular trends associated with flavonoids and the strategies developed to expand their therapeutic applications. 25 patents were searched, covering the period from 2001 to 2024 in different patent databases. China led in the number of applications, while universities stood out among the main applicants. Proven patents have revealed multifaceted pharmacological applications in the antioxidant, immunometabolic, and neurological fields, as well as interactions with proteins, enzymes, and cellular pathways associated with degenerative processes, cellular aging, and the tumor microenvironment. The observed biological and technological evidence reinforces the potential of flavonoids as promising therapeutic candidates and adjuvant agents capable of enhancing existing therapies, consolidating their relevance and opportunities in the technological, patent, and translational landscape.