Antiviral Plant Extracts: A Treasure for Treating Viral Diseases

Abstract

Viral infections remain a challenge in human and veterinary medicine due to factors such as viral mutations, new viruses, toxic effects, disease severity, intracellular viability, high costs, and limited availability of antiviral drugs. Despite advancements in immunization and antiviral drugs, there is a need for new and more effective antiviral compounds. Plants produce secondary metabolites that have shown antiviral activity, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and essential oils. Advanced analytical techniques like HPLC, GC-MS, and NMR spectroscopy are used to identify and characterize these bioactive compounds. Flavonoids, terpenoids, lignans, sulphides, polyphenolics, coumarins, and saponins are among the groups of bioactive compounds found in plants that have demonstrated antiviral activity against viruses like HIV, influenza, herpes simplex, and hepatitis. Screening plant extracts and isolating active compounds allow scientists to identify potential new antiviral drugs. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown significant antiviral activity of plant extracts and their bioactive compounds. However, further research is needed to ensure safety, investigate drug interactions, and explore combination therapies with other natural products. The use of advanced analytical techniques helps identify and characterize bioactive compounds that target different stages of the viral life cycle. Examples of plant extracts and compounds with antiviral activity against specific viruses are mentioned, including SARS-CoV-2 and various veterinary viruses. The abstract emphasizes the ongoing research on natural sources, particularly plants, for the discovery of new and effective antiviral compounds, while highlighting the need for extensive studies on safety, drug interactions, and combination therapies.