Antiviral Activity of Medicinal Plants Current Understanding, Prospects, and Challenges

Venkateish, V. P. and Nivya, V. and Vani, V. and Baskaran, V. and Madan Kumar, P. (2021) Antiviral Activity of Medicinal Plants Current Understanding, Prospects, and Challenges. In: Traditional Herbal Therapy for the Human Immune System. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 1-20. ISBN 9781003137955

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Abstract

Viruses are extremely small infectious organisms, surrounded by a protein coat, composed of either DNA or RNA as genetic material, and requiring a live host for multiplication. Some common viral diseases of humans include the common cold, flu, chickenpox, smallpox, measles, mumps, rubella, shingles, hepatitis, herpes, polio, rabies, Ebola, hanta fever, and most recently COVID-19. Viruses typically cause infections of the respiratory, gastrointestinal tracts, nervous system, skin, placenta and foetus infections. If left unattended, the infection will lead to multi-organ damage, including the heart, liver, kidney, blood, and immune system. Medicinal plants have been employed for several centuries to prevent or treat numerous viral infections. A vast number of medicinal plants possessing polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, carotenoids, coumarins, saponins, proteins, peptides, and volatile essential oils from culinary herbs, spices and herbal teas have been reported for their antiviral properties. Medicinal plants have provided ample scope for researchers to explore and establish viable alternatives for many emerging viral infections. In this chapter, the significance and treatment options of medicinal plants for managing various viral diseases are discussed extensively.

Item Type:	Book Section
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Medicinal Plants, Viruses, Antiviral Activity
Subjects:	600 Technology > 03 Agriculture > 04 Medicinal Plants
Divisions:	Dept. of Biochemistry
Depositing User:	Somashekar K S
Date Deposited:	21 Nov 2025 09:09
Last Modified:	21 Nov 2025 09:09
URI:	http://ir.cftri.res.in/id/eprint/20116

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