Human herpesviruses (HHVs) are large DNA viruses with highly infectious characteristics. HHVs can induce lytic and latent infections in their host, and most of these viruses are neurotropic, with the capacity to generate severe and chronic neurological diseases of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS). Treatment of HHV infections based on strategies that include natural products-derived drugs is one of the most rapidly developing fields of modern medicine. Therefore, in this paper, we lend insights into the recent advances that have been achieved during the past five years in utilizing flavonoids as promising natural drugs for the treatment of HHVs infections of the nervous system such as alpha-herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus type 1, type 2, and varicella-zoster virus), beta-herpesviruses (human cytomegalovirus), and gamma-herpesviruses (Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus). The neurological complications associated with infections induced by the reviewed herpesviruses are emphasized. Additionally, this work covers all possible mechanisms and pathways by which flavonoids induce promising therapeutic actions against the above-mentioned herpesviruses.

Department of Applied Ecology Faculty of Environmental Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamýcká 129 165 00 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Food Technology University Center Koprivnica University North Trga Dr Žarka Dolinara 1 48 000 Koprivnica Croatia

Department of Medical Biology Jessenius Faculty of Medicine Comenius University in Bratislava 03601 Martin Slovakia

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Jessenius Faculty of Medicine Comenius University in Bratislava 03601 Martin Slovakia

Museum of Literature in Moravia Klášter 1 664 61 Rajhrad Czech Republic

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