Extracts and molecules from medicinal plants against herpes simplex viruses.
Herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and -2) are important pathogens for humans, especially in the case of highly susceptible adults. Moreover, HSV-2 has been reported to be a high risk factor for HIV infection. Therefore, the discovery of novel anti-HSV drugs deserves great efforts. In this paper, we review anti-HSV substances from natural sources, including both extracts and pure compounds from herbal medicines, reported in studies from several laboratories. The role of traditional medicine for the development of anti-HSV compounds is also discussed. Interestingly, it was found that traditional medicines, like Ayurvedic, traditional Chinese (TCM), Chakma medicines, are good and potential sources for promising anti-HSV drugs. A second objective of this review is to discuss several anti-HSV compounds with respect to their structure-activity relationship (SAR). A large number of small molecules, like phenolics, polyphenols, terpenes (e.g., mono-, di-, tri-), flavonoids, sugar-containing compounds, were found to be promising anti-herpetic agents. Our major conclusion is that natural products from medicinal plant extracts are very important source of anti-HSV agents.
Khan
Mahmud Tareq Hassan
MT
Pharmacology Research Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Science and Technology Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh. khnmmd@unife.it
Ather
Arjumand
A
Thompson
Kenneth D
KD
Gambari
Roberto
R
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts