Chalcones as a Platform for the Development of Novel Antiviral Agents: A Review

Introduction: Viruses pose serious threats to public health, with frequent outbreaks of emerging and reemerging viral pathogens. Given the limitations of current antiviral therapies, the search for new control strategies is essential. In this context, chalcones have attracted great attention due to their structural versatility and a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antiviral effects. Methods: We conducted a literature review examining the antiviral applications of natural and synthetic chalcones validated in experimental assays and reported in articles published up to December 2025 in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Results: Chalcones have shown antiviral activity against more than 15 viral species, including respiratory viruses and arboviruses, human retroviruses, DNA viruses, and the plant pathogen tobacco mosaic virus. Discussion: Structural modifications of the chalcone core influence their mechanisms of action, which involve diverse targets such as viral proteases, kinases, polymerases, structural proteins, as well as host cell pathways. Nevertheless, limited selectivity likely remains a major challenge hindering further development of these compounds. Conclusion: Overall, the structural versatility of chalcones, their broad-spectrum antiviral activity, and their diverse mechanisms of action highlight their strong potential as antiviral agents. Yet, further optimization and in vivo studies are essential to develop more potent and safer chalcone-based drug candidates.