Opportunities and Challenges in the Development of Antiviral Phytopharmaceuticals

Abstract

The increasing outbreak of infections caused by viruses has compelled scientists to search for less hazardous antiviral phyto-molecules as an alternative to antiviral drugs like protease inhibitors, nucleic acid analogues, and other toxic synthetic compounds. Since ancient times, people have used plants and many of their secondary metabolites for therapeutic purposes. This practice is prevalent across the world. They give us a variety of bioactive phytochemicals that work together to sustain human health. Developing clinical drugs from phyto-pharmaceuticals is a popular strategy for finding environmentally acceptable compounds for medicinal use. In Western countries, whole plants or their parts constitute the source of more than 50% of pharmaceuticals. Significant antiviral properties are also seen in several plants. Relatively little is known about plants that have significant antiviral properties. The mode of action, prospective uses in the treatment or prevention of viral infections, and numerous phytochemicals and bioactive compounds that have been extracted from plants and include antiviral compounds are briefly addressed in this article.