Antiviral Activity of Jamaican Medicinal Plants and Isolated Bioactive Compounds

Abstract

Plants have had historical significance in medicine since the beginning of civilization. The oldest medical pharmacopeias of the African, Arabian, and Asian countries solely utilize plants and herbs to treat pain, oral diseases, skin diseases, microbial infections, multiple types of cancers, reproductive disorders among a myriad of other ailments. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 65% of the world population solely utilize botanical preparations as medicine. Due to the abundance of plants, plant-derived medicines are more readily accessible, affordable, convenient, and have safer side-effect profiles than synthetic drugs. Plant-based decoctions have been a significant part of Jamaican traditional folklore medicine. Jamaica is of particular interest because it has approximately 52% of the established medicinal plants that exist on earth. This makes the island particularly welcoming for rigorous scientific research on the medicinal value of plants and the development of phytomedicine thereof. Viral infections caused by the human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2), hepatitis virus B and C, influenza A virus, and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) present a significant global burden. This is a review of some important Jamaican medicinal plants, with particular reference to their antiviral activity.

Nanotechnology Applications of Flavonoids for Viral Diseases

“…The anti-human Influenza A activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (sorrel) has been attributed to a number of phytochemical constituents, including delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside [92]. In silico studies have shown that delphinidin-3,5-diglucoside interacts via hydrogen bonding with Gly143, His163, His164, Glu166, Gln189, Thr190, and Gln192 and π-π interaction with His41 of the main protease Mpro of SARS-CoV-2, which suggests that the compound can be useful in inhibiting viral replication through inhibition of Mpro [93].…”

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“…Bioactive compounds extracted from various parts of these plants are responsible for the therapeutic effects of phyto-antivirals which include anthraquinones, coumarins, flavonoids, alkaloids etc. [4]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 80% of the population in Africa and over 65% of the world population uses herbal medicine to meet their primary health care needs [4,5 ].…”

“…[4]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 80% of the population in Africa and over 65% of the world population uses herbal medicine to meet their primary health care needs [4,5 ]. Herbal medicines are safe, effective, and have fewer side effects compared to allopathic medicines [5].…”