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Review
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Plants as sources of
antiviral agents
Abonyi, D. O., Adikwu, M.
U., Esimone, C. O. and Ibezim, E. C.*
Division
of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Department of Pharmaceutics,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
ecibezim@yahoo.com
Accepted 31 March, 2006 |
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Abstract |
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Antivirals
are substances other than a virus or virus containing
vaccine or specific antibody which can produce either a
protective or therapeutic effect to the clear detectable
advantage of the virus infected host. The search for
antiviral agents began in earnest in the 1950s but this was
directed mainly by chance, with little or no scientific
basis. It had a turning point in 1964 with a number of
narrow spectrum agents whose values have been more difficult
to establish. A lot of success has been achieved in the
screening of plants for antibacterial, antifungal and
antiviral actions. The use of plants or plant products,
traditionally, as antiviral agents is relatively wider than
their use in modern medicine. Some antiviral substances have
so far been isolated from higher plants, algae and lichens.
Suitable methods for evaluating antiviral properties of
plants and their extracts include use of animal models,
animal protection studies, egg inoculation studies and cell
culture methods.
Key
words:
Antiviral,
plants, lichen, algae, plant extracts. |
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