Antiviral Phytochemicals: An Overview

Abstract

The pandemic of viral diseases during recent years has forced the scientific community to investigate less toxic antiviral phytomolecules instead of using nucleic acid analogues, protease inhibitors or other toxic synthetic molecules as antiviral therapeutics. Plants and many of their secondary metabolites because of the healing properties have been in traditional use throughout the world since ancient times. They provide us diverse bioactive phytochemicals which play synergetic role in maintaining human health. The development of clinical products from phyto-pharmaceuticals is a trending approach to look for ecofriendly therapeutic molecules. More than 50% of drugs used in Western nations are derived from plants or their constituents. Many plants have significant antiviral properties too. Very little information is available about plants of antiviral significance. This article briefly reviews various phytochemicals/bioactive molecules which have been isolated from plants and possess antiviral constituents, their mode of action and potential applications in treating/preventing viral diseases.

Phytochemicals as Antiviral Agents: Recent Updates

“…Pure compounds and plant extracts have been investigated for the synthesis of new pharmaceuticals and therapeutics (Oliveira et al 2017). Plants have a variety of secondary metabolites like flavonoids, terpenoids, lignans, tannins, and alkaloids having diverse anti-infection activities, as well as antioxidant activities (Kapoor et al 2017;Akram et al 2018). There are several classes of phytochemicals, which are used as antivirals ( Fig.…”

“…These include phenolics, carotenoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Out of which, the phytochemicals belonging to phenolics, alkaloids, and terpenoids have been explained in further sections (Kapoor et al 2017 (Oliveira et al 2017;Akram et al 2018). These viruses have either DNA or RNA as genetic material.…”

“…The distressing threat of viral diseases to human beings raises a serious concern worldwide. New viral diseases have been reported continuously with severe health issues, and the lack of effective antiviral treatment makes them more severe (Kapoor et al 2017). Most of the viral diseases like influenza, HIV, and chikungunya and other diseases caused by alphaviruses and flaviviruses are emerging with the great risk.…”

“…Plant-based antiviral natural compounds are the most suitable and best alternative of antiviral medicines/inhibitors/drugs, because of less toxicity (Lillehoj et al 2018). Plant-based potential bioactive compounds, having antiviral properties have been proved superior, and could be combined with the preexisting therapies, along with the different delivery methods to enhance the effectiveness of antiviral along with good bioavailability (Kapoor et al 2017). Viruses possess DNA or RNA genome with protein envelops, and depend on the host metabolism and environment to replicate and survive.…”

“…This approach limits the viral penetration, resists its coating, and eventually inhibits the growth of viruses. Additionally, some of the compounds directly inhibit viral replication and hence prevent its propagation (Kapoor et al 2017). Herein, we will focus on the plant-based antivirals reported to inhibit viral replication and the mode of their action.…”