The Anti-Viral Potential of Medicinal Plants and Herbal Formulations for the Treatment of Dengue Fever

Alternantheraphiloxeroides

This plant is commonly known as Alligator weed and belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. It is cultivated in Australia but has its origin in South America. Its potential against dengue fever was analyzed by in vivo studies. It has been demonstrated that it has strong potential against the dengue virus [8]. Andrographis Paniculate This annual herb belongs to the Acanthaceae family. This erect herb is native to Sri Lanka and India. It is widely cultivated in Southeastern Asia and Malaysia. It is bitter. Methanolic extract of this herb was investigated by in vitro studies. It was demonstrated by that study that the methanolic extract of this plant has a strong anti-viral potential [9].

Azadirachta Indica

This fast-growing herb grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions and is native to India and Pakistan. It belongs to the Meliaceae family. The final height of this tree ranges from 15-20m. Anti-viral activity of Azadirachta indica leaves was evaluated by both in vivo and in vitro studies. It was shown by the studies that possess a strong inhibitory effect against the virus and is non-toxic [10].

Boesenbergia Rotunda

This herb is used for both culinary and medicinal purposes and belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. It is commonly known as Chine ginger. It is cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. The extract of this herb was investigated against dengue virus protease. It was demonstrated by analyzing the result of studies that it has a strong anti-viral potential [11].

Carica Papaya

It is an unbranched tree belonging to the Caricaceae family. This fast-growing tree is widely cultivated in Mexico. This tree has its origin in Central America. The leaves of these plants gave been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of dengue fever. The aqueous extract of the leaves of this tree was investigated to test the anti-viral activity. The results of the study indicated that ethanolic extract from the leaves of this plant exhibited strong potential against dengue fever and have strong anti-viral activity [12, 13].

Cladosiphon Okamuranus

This brown seaweed belongs to the Chordariaceae family and is found naturally in Japan. An important phytochemical of this plant known as sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan was found to exhibit strong anti-viral potential against dengue fever.

Castanospermum Austral

Castanospermum austral is commonly known as black beans or Moreton Bay chestnut. This flowering plant belongs to the Fabaceae family. This evergreen large plant is native to Queensland in Australia. The anti-viral activity of the important phytochemical constituent “castanospermine” belonging to this plant was investigated by in vitro assay. Whitby, et al. [14] demonstrated that according to studies, Castanospermine may impair the folding of some viral proteins by blocking the removal of the terminal glucose residue on N-linked glycans in dengue virus may impair the folding of some viral proteins by blocking the removal of the terminal glucose residue on N-linked glycans in dengue virus, according to studies[14].

Cissampelos Pareira

Cissampelospareira is commonly known as velvetleaf. It is a flowering plant belonging to the Menispermaceae family. The anti-dengue efficacy of an extract of Cissampelospareira aerial parts was patented by Bhatnagar and colleagues [9]. Their research focused on the anti-dengue action of Cissampelospareira extracts, as well as medicinal formulations containing Cissampelospareira extracts. In a traditional experiment, methanolic extracts of Cissampelospareira showed antiviral efficacy against all strains of dengue virus, with PRNT50 values ranging from 1.2-11.1 g/mL.

Euphorbia Hirta

Euphorbia hirta commonly known as the Asthma plant is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family.In ethanolic- producing thrombocytopenic rat models, Apostol, et al. investigated the platelet-raising activity of Euphorbia hirta plant decoction. After 7 days of dosing, 100mg/kg of the lyophilized decoction of E. hirta improved platelet count in ethanol-induced thrombocytopenia. The anti- thrombocytopenic action was maintained after repeated administration of the plant decoction. The active element in E. hirta, lowering polyphenols, is thought to be responsible for increasing platelet count.

Gastrodiaelata

Gastrodiaelata is a well-known and significant Chinese medicinal herb in the Orchidaceae family. Qui H [15] and Tong [16] et al. extracted Dglucans from Gastrodiaelata and produced sulfated derivatives, which were tested for anti- dengue activity against the dengue 2 viruses. With an EC (50) value of 0.68+/-0.17 micron/mL, these sulfated D-glucan derivatives substantially inhibited dengue 2 virus infections, primarily interfering with virus adsorption, at an early stage of the virus cycle [15].

Hippophae Rhamnoides

Hippophaerhamnoides, sometimes known as saw buckthorn, is a spiny deciduous shrub in the Elaeagnaceae family. Mounika Jain, et al. [17] studied the anti-dengue activity of Hippophaerhamnoides [17]. The anti-dengue activity of this plant’s leaf extract was tested in Dengue type 2 virus-infected blood-derived human macrophages as the primary targets. This study found that this extract could maintain cell viability in dengue-infected cells while also increasing TNF- and IFN- levels.

Lippia Citriodora

Lippacitriodora, popularly known as Lemon verbena, is a perennial shrub in the Verbenaceae family. Before cell adsorption, the dengue virus was treated with essential oil for 2 hours at 37 degrees Celsius, and studies were done to see if untreated virus reproduction was inhibited in the presence of oil. Treatment of the virus before adsorption on the cell resulted in plaque reduction for all four dengue serotypes.L. alba oil had an IC50 of 0.4-32.6 microns/mL, while L. citriodora oil had an IC50 of 1.9-33.7 micron/mL. [16].

Mimosa Scabrella

Mimosa scabrella is a multifunctional tree of the Fabaceae family. Two galactomannans were obtained by Wollinger, et al. [18] from Mimosa scabrella and Leucaenaleucocephala seeds. In vitro antiviral properties of these two active compounds were investigated against yellow fever and dengue viruses. At concentrations of 347 and 37 mg-1, in vitro tests in C6/36 cell culture assays revealed inhibitory action against the dengue virus [18].

Phyllanthus Urinaria

Phyllanthusurinaria, often known as chamber bitter or gripe weed, is a member of the Phyllanthaceae family. Sau Har Lee, et al. [19] investigated the anti-dengue effect of Phyllanthusamarus, P.urinaria, P.niruri, and P.wastonii aqueous and methanolic extracts. These species had the highest inhibitory efficacy against DENV2, with more than 90% viral decrease in simultaneous treatment at 250.0 g/ mL and 15.63 g/mL, respectively [19].

Quercus Lusitanica

Quercuslusitanica, sometimes known as Quercusinfectora, is a member of the Fagaceae family. In vitro inhibitory action of Quercuslusitanica seed extract was demonstrated by Sylvia, et al. [1]. After treating infected cells with seed extract, the expression of the NS1 protein was shown to be reduced.

Sylvia et al. examined the same plant extract for antidengue activity in 2008. Quercuslusitanica seed extract suppressed Dengue type 2 viruses at concentrations of 0.032 to 0.25 mg/m in this investigation.

Rhizophora Apiculata

Rhizophora species can be found in most tropical coastal areas of the western Pacific and eastern Africa. Rhizophoramucronata, Rhizophorastylosa, and Rhizophoraapiculata are the three species that make up this genus. India, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries have R. apiculata. T. Ramanathan, et al. investigated the larvicidal effectiveness of Rhizophoraapicuata petroleum ether extracts against the Aedes aegypti mosquito. With an LC50 of 25.7g/L, the petroleum ether extract of R. apiculata is the most effective. In addition, the extract has synergistic larvicidal efficacy with pyrethrum.

Zostera Marina

Zostera marina is a member of the Zosteraceae family. Eelgrass is a type of aquatic plant that is endemic to North America and Eurasia. Anti-dengue viral activity has been discovered in a substance derived from the temperate marine eelgrass Zostera marina [20].