Since January 2020, Elsevier has created a free COVID-19 resource center with information in English and Mandarin. The center is hosted on Elsevier Connect, providing access to research on the novel coronavirus. Elsevier grants permission to make all related research freely available in PubMed Central and other public repositories for unrestricted use. The review discusses the antimicrobial activity of flavonoids, a class of natural compounds found in plants and foods. Flavonoids have been used for centuries in traditional medicine and are now being studied for their anti-infective properties. Research shows that flavonoids can have antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial effects. However, results in antibacterial activity are conflicting due to variations in testing methods. High-quality studies have shown a relationship between flavonoid structure and antibacterial activity, and many flavonoids have been identified for their antibacterial mechanisms, such as inhibiting DNA gyrase, cytoplasmic membrane function, and energy metabolism. Flavonoids are found in various plants and foods, and their medicinal properties include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytotoxic effects. They have been used in traditional medicine for centuries and are now being explored for new antimicrobial drugs. Flavonoids have shown activity against various pathogens, including fungi and viruses. However, their toxicity and mechanisms of action are still being studied. Research indicates that flavonoids may have bacteriostatic or bactericidal effects, and some may inhibit bacterial membrane function or energy metabolism. The review highlights the need for further research into flavonoid structure-activity relationships and their mechanisms of action to develop new antimicrobial agents. Flavonoids represent a promising area for drug development, and future studies may lead to the creation of pharmacologically acceptable antimicrobial compounds. The review also emphasizes the importance of standardizing testing methods to reduce discrepancies in reported antibacterial activity.Since January 2020, Elsevier has created a free COVID-19 resource center with information in English and Mandarin. The center is hosted on Elsevier Connect, providing access to research on the novel coronavirus. Elsevier grants permission to make all related research freely available in PubMed Central and other public repositories for unrestricted use. The review discusses the antimicrobial activity of flavonoids, a class of natural compounds found in plants and foods. Flavonoids have been used for centuries in traditional medicine and are now being studied for their anti-infective properties. Research shows that flavonoids can have antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial effects. However, results in antibacterial activity are conflicting due to variations in testing methods. High-quality studies have shown a relationship between flavonoid structure and antibacterial activity, and many flavonoids have been identified for their antibacterial mechanisms, such as inhibiting DNA gyrase, cytoplasmic membrane function, and energy metabolism. Flavonoids are found in various plants and foods, and their medicinal properties include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytotoxic effects. They have been used in traditional medicine for centuries and are now being explored for new antimicrobial drugs. Flavonoids have shown activity against various pathogens, including fungi and viruses. However, their toxicity and mechanisms of action are still being studied. Research indicates that flavonoids may have bacteriostatic or bactericidal effects, and some may inhibit bacterial membrane function or energy metabolism. The review highlights the need for further research into flavonoid structure-activity relationships and their mechanisms of action to develop new antimicrobial agents. Flavonoids represent a promising area for drug development, and future studies may lead to the creation of pharmacologically acceptable antimicrobial compounds. The review also emphasizes the importance of standardizing testing methods to reduce discrepancies in reported antibacterial activity.