Pine Needle Extract Applicable to Topical Treatment for the Prevention of Human Papillomavirus Infection

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that are extremely common worldwide. There are more than 100 types of HPV, including at least 14 cancer-causing viruses. Although the majority of infections cause no symptoms and are self-limiting, genital HPVs have become a major public health concern because persistent infection with certain types can cause cervical cancer, which kills about 311,000 women worldwide each year [1-3]. HPV serotypes 16 and 18 are reported to account for approximately 70% of cases, with the most common serotypes detected in women with cervical cancer [4]. Although commercial vaccines, including Gardasil and Cevarix, represent a remarkable improvement in the fight against cervical disease and other anogenital cancers, vaccinated individuals may remain infected with HPVs that are not targeted by the vaccines. Further, because the vaccines are relatively expensive, they may not be available to all women, especially those in developing countries [5, 6]. Currently no FDA-approved antiviral drugs are available to treat HPV infection [7, 8]. Recent studies investigating the prevention and treatment of HPV related to cervical cancer and other genital diseases are attracting increasing attention worldwide [8]. The study of inhibitors is focused on the oncogenic proteins E6 and E7, and the replication proteins E1 and E2 [9, 10]. The therapies for HPV-associated lesions, including cryotherapy, surgical excision, and topical application of cytotoxic agents, are mostly ablative and cytodestructive although genital warts can be treated by topical application of the immunomodulator imiquimod [11, 12]. Despite studies investigating the treatment of HPV-related lesions, effective drugs or treatments for HPV infection are imperative. Herbal medicine is considered one of the alternative approaches to the treatment of viral diseases (Ghanbari et al., 2019). Approximately 70,000 species of plants are used in herbal medicine, including the treatment of HPV infection [13, 14]. Green tea extract has been reported to regulate the genes involved in the pro-inflammatory response to HPV infection and inhibit the binding to receptors [15]. A recently approved Polyphenon ® E ointment found effective against HPV-related diseases was formulated with catechins extracted from green tea [16]. Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. has been reported to contain several phenolic compounds that exhibit biological activity, such as antibacterial and antioxidant effects, as well as potential anti-viral activity against the influenza A virus [17]. Among studies on the pharmacological action of pine needles, saponin is known to exhibit strong lethal Most cervical cancers are associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Currently, cervical cancer treatment entails surgical removal of the lesion, but treatment of infection and preventing tissue damage are issues that still remain to be addressed. Herbal medicine and biological studies have focused on developing anti-viral drugs from natural sources. In this study, we...

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“…How the selected ligands bind to the target protein and the length of the hydrogen bond were depicted in Figure 3. FFHD [11] Echinacea purpurea, Epigallocatechin gallate, and Carrageenan [12].…”

Phytotherapies for COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC): Implications for present and future pandemics

“…Folkloric evidence of the Pine spp . showed that the plants were used for asthma, hypertension, gastrointestinal tract disorders, hemorrhage, rheumatism and the prevention of other diseases (Lee, Park, et al. , 2021).…”

“…However, some scientific evidence recently reported the pharmacological effects of Pinus spp . to include anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-microbial and anti-oxidant activities, with α- Pinene, flavonoids, saponin, several phenolic compounds (Ha et al ., 2020; Lee, Park, et al. , 2021).…”