Natural Compounds as Potential Basis for the Prevention and Treatment of Hepatitis C

Abstract

The article summarizes study results of the effect of polyphenols, polysaccharides, and lectins from terrestrial and marine biota on the hepatitis C virus and the course of HCV infection. The urgency of this problem is determined by the wide spread, the asymptomatic course of the acute form of the disease with the gradual development of adverse outcomes, limited access to effective etiotropic therapy due to high cost, as well as low public awareness of this disease. A wide range of physiological effects of natural biologically active substances with antiviral, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity opens up the possibility of their use for the creation of pharmacological substances and drugs of a new generation for the prevention and adjuvant therapy of hepatitis C. The authors of the review draw attention to the difficulties associated with the development of such tools and some possible ways to overcome them.