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Medicinal Research Reviews Mar 2022Propolis is a complex natural product that possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties mainly attributed to the... (Review)
Review
Propolis is a complex natural product that possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties mainly attributed to the high content in flavonoids, phenolic acids, and their derivatives. The chemical composition of propolis is multifarious, as it depends on the botanical sources from which honeybees collect resins and exudates. Nevertheless, despite this variability propolis may have a general pharmacological value, and this review systematically compiles, for the first time, the existing preclinical and clinical evidence of propolis activities as an antiviral and immunomodulatory agent, focusing on the possible application in respiratory diseases. In vitro and in vivo assays have demonstrated propolis broad-spectrum effects on viral infectivity and replication, as well as the modulatory actions on cytokine production and immune cell activation as part of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Clinical trials confirmed propolis undeniable potential as an effective therapeutic agent; however, the lack of rigorous randomized clinical trials in the context of respiratory diseases is tangible. Since propolis is available as a dietary supplement, possible use for the prevention of respiratory diseases and their deleterious inflammatory drawbacks on the respiratory tract in humans is considered and discussed. This review opens up new perspectives on the clinical investigation of neglected propolis biological properties which, now more than ever, are particularly relevant with respect to the recent outbreaks of pandemic respiratory infections.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antiviral Agents; Bees; Humans; Immunity; Immunomodulation; Propolis
PubMed: 34725836
DOI: 10.1002/med.21866 -
ACS Infectious Diseases May 2020The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) highlights an urgent need for therapeutics. Through a series of drug repurposing screening campaigns,... (Review)
Review
The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) highlights an urgent need for therapeutics. Through a series of drug repurposing screening campaigns, niclosamide, an FDA-approved anthelminthic drug, was found to be effective against various viral infections with nanomolar to micromolar potency such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, ZIKV, HCV, and human adenovirus, indicating its potential as an antiviral agent. In this brief review, we summarize the broad antiviral activity of niclosamide and highlight its potential clinical use in the treatment of COVID-19.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Drug Repositioning; Humans; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; Niclosamide; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 32125140
DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00052 -
Infectious Disorders Drug Targets 2024Monkeypox is a viral disease; its outbreak was recently declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization. For the first time, a monkeypox virus... (Review)
Review
Monkeypox is a viral disease; its outbreak was recently declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization. For the first time, a monkeypox virus (MPXV)-infected patient was found in India. Various researchers back-to-back tried to find the solution to this health emergency just after COVID-19. In this review, we discuss the current outbreak status of India, its transmission, virulence factors, symptoms, treatment, and the preventive guidelines generated by the Indian Health Ministry. We found that monkeypox virus (MPXV) disease is different from smallpox, and the age group between 30-40 years old is more prone to MPXV disease. We also found that, besides homosexuals, gays, bisexuals, and non-vegetarians, it also affects normal straight men and women who have no history of travel. Close contact should be avoided from rats, monkeys and sick people who are affected by monkeypox. To date, there are no monkeypox drugs, but Tecovirimat is more effective than other drugs that are used for other viral diseases like smallpox. Therefore, we need to develop an effective antiviral agent against the virulence factor of MXPV.
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Male; Antiviral Agents; Benzamides; Disease Outbreaks; India; Isoindoles; Monkeypox virus; Mpox (monkeypox); Phthalimides; Virulence Factors; Adult
PubMed: 38243966
DOI: 10.2174/0118715265258451231214063506 -
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines Oct 2020Andrographolide is a labdane diterpenoid extracted and purified from the aerial parts of plants belonging to genus Andrographis (Acanthaceae). The research has shown the... (Review)
Review
Andrographolide is a labdane diterpenoid extracted and purified from the aerial parts of plants belonging to genus Andrographis (Acanthaceae). The research has shown the plant based compound is low cytotoxic, having antimicrobial, anti-cancer, antiviral and anti-parasitic effects. Andrographolide both prevent spread as well as transmission of virus to neighboring cells by interfering with different cell signaling pathways. In addition to its medicinal value, plant has been found having nutritional value. Therefore being cost effective, easy availability and having nutritional value as a natural supplement, can be used to improve the quality of life in countries having low standard of living. Due to the limited number of effective vaccines, the plant-based antiviral drugs have provided considerable hope for fighting against the viral infections. The plant-derived compound when produced in large quantities is cost effective with low cytotoxic effects. However, much deep insight research at the molecular level is needed to develop the molecules against the viral infection. This paper aims to highlight the antiviral role of Andrographolide that can made significant contributions toward the improvement of human health and will also summarize the current status and future strategies concerning the therapeutic applications of Andrographolide to combat different viral disease in humans.
Topics: Andrographis; Animals; Antioxidants; Antiviral Agents; Autophagy; Cytoprotection; Diterpenes; Humans; Oxidative Stress; Virus Diseases
PubMed: 33039055
DOI: 10.1016/S1875-5364(20)60016-4 -
Chembiochem : a European Journal of... Aug 2021The severe acute respiratory syndrome - coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the infectious agent responsible for COVID-19 - has caused more than 2.5 million deaths worldwide and... (Review)
Review
The severe acute respiratory syndrome - coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the infectious agent responsible for COVID-19 - has caused more than 2.5 million deaths worldwide and triggered a global pandemic. Even with successful vaccines being delivered, there is an urgent need for novel treatments to combat SARS-CoV-2, and other emerging viral diseases. While several organic small molecule drug candidates are in development, some effort has also been devoted towards the application of metal complexes as potential antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2. Herein, the metal complexes that have been reported to show antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 or one of its target proteins are described and their proposed mechanisms of action are discussed.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; Coordination Complexes; Drug Design; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34002456
DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100186 -
Medical Science Monitor : International... Oct 2022One of the most recently described clinical associations with SARS-CoV-2 infection is rebound COVID-19, which occurs between five and eight days following the cessation...
One of the most recently described clinical associations with SARS-CoV-2 infection is rebound COVID-19, which occurs between five and eight days following the cessation of antiviral treatment. Most case reports of rebound COVID-19 have been associated with cessation of treatment with the combined oral antiviral agent nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid). On 24 May 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory update for patients, healthcare providers, and public health departments on COVID-19 rebound or recurrence of COVID-19. However, population data from the US showed no significant differences in the risk of developing rebound COVID-19 between patients treated with Paxlovid and Molnupiravir. The mechanisms of rebound COVID-19 remain unclear but may involve the development of resistance to the antiviral drug, impaired immunity to the virus, or insufficient drug dosing. A further explanation may be the persistence of a high viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in individuals who are no longer symptomatic. This Editorial aims to provide an update on what is known about rebound COVID-19 and the current public health implications.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; Cytidine; Drug Combinations; Humans; Hydroxylamines; Lactams; Leucine; Nitriles; Proline; Ritonavir; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 36181334
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.938532 -
Viruses Dec 2019Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a threat to human health in the world, particularly for immunologically weak patients. CMV may cause opportunistic infections, congenital... (Review)
Review
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a threat to human health in the world, particularly for immunologically weak patients. CMV may cause opportunistic infections, congenital infections and central nervous system infections. CMV infections are difficult to treat due to their specific life cycles, mutation, and latency characteristic. Despite recent advances, current drugs used for treating active CMV infections are limited in their efficacy, and the eradication of latent infections is impossible. Current antiviral agents which target the UL54 DNA polymerase are restricted because of nephrotoxicity and viral resistance. CMV also cannot be prevented or eliminated with a vaccine. Fortunately, letermovir which targets the human CMV (HCMV) terminase complex has been recently approved to treat CMV infections in humans. The growing point is developing antiviral agents against both lytically and latently infected cells. The nucleic acid-based therapeutic approaches including the external guide sequences (EGSs)-RNase, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) are being explored to remove acute and/or latent CMV infections. HCMV vaccine is being developed for prophylaxis. Additionally, adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) has been experimentally used to combate drug-resistant and recurrent CMV in patients after cell and/or organ transplantation. Developing antiviral agents is promising in this area to obtain fruitful outcomes and to have a great impact on humans for the therapy of CMV infections.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Drug Resistance, Viral; Humans; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Viral Vaccines; Virus Latency
PubMed: 31878068
DOI: 10.3390/v12010021 -
Biomedical Journal Oct 2020Human coronaviruses (HCoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and severe... (Review)
Review
Human coronaviruses (HCoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), have been resulting in global epidemics with heavy morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, there are currently no specific medicines that can better treat these coronaviruses. Drug repurposing is an effective and economical strategy for drug discovery from existing drugs, natural products, and synthetic compounds. In this review, the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of valinomycin (VAL), especially its activity against coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43), were summarized, it highlights that VAL has tremendous potential for use as a novel antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; Humans; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; Treatment Outcome; Valinomycin; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 33012699
DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2020.08.006 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Dec 2022The world is faces a significant global health challenge in the form of viral infections, particularly the emergence of viral strains that are resistant to effective... (Review)
Review
The world is faces a significant global health challenge in the form of viral infections, particularly the emergence of viral strains that are resistant to effective antiviral therapies. This underscores the urgent need for the development of effective and safe antiviral agents. Nanoscale materials are now being used as novel antiviral agents. Cerium nanoparticles have unique chemical and physical properties that make them particularly promising for viral infections. These particles reduce inflammation and the autoimmune response. Cerium nanoparticles, in addition to their antiviral properties, have many other advantages that are highly sought after for various aspects of biomedical applications. This review focuses on the various properties of cerium nanoparticles as a novel agent against viral infections.
Topics: Humans; Cerium; Nanoparticles; Antioxidants; Virus Diseases; Antiviral Agents
PubMed: 36257210
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113868 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023The results of the most recent investigation of triterpenoid-based antiviral agents namely in the HIV-1 and HSV-1 treatment were reviewed and summarized. Several key... (Review)
Review
The results of the most recent investigation of triterpenoid-based antiviral agents namely in the HIV-1 and HSV-1 treatment were reviewed and summarized. Several key historical achievements are included to stress consequences and continuity in this research. Most of the agents studied belong to a series of compounds derived from betulin or betulinic acid, and their synthetic derivative is called bevirimat. A termination of clinical trials of bevirimat in Phase IIb initiated a search for more successful compounds partly derived from bevirimat or designed independently of bevirimat structure. Surprisingly, a majority of bevirimat mimics are derivatives of betulinic acid, while other plant triterpenoids, such as ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, or other miscellaneous triterpenoids, are relatively rarely involved in a search for a novel antiviral agent. Therefore, this review article is divided into three parts based on the leading triterpenoid core structure.
Topics: Triterpenes; Antiviral Agents; Betulinic Acid; Pentacyclic Triterpenes; Plants
PubMed: 38067449
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237718