Review of Medicinal Plants and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients against Aquatic Pathogenic Viruses

Abstract

Aquaculture offers a promising source of economic and healthy protein for human consumption, which can improve wellbeing. Viral diseases are the most serious type of diseases affecting aquatic animals and a major obstacle to the development of the aquaculture industry. In the background of antibiotic-free farming, the development and application of antibiotic alternatives has become one of the most important issues in aquaculture. In recent years, many medicinal plants and their active pharmaceutical ingredients have been found to be effective in the treatment and prevention of viral diseases in aquatic animals. Compared with chemical drugs and antibiotics, medicinal plants have fewer side-effects, produce little drug resistance, and exhibit low toxicity to the water environment. Most medicinal plants can effectively improve the growth performance of aquatic animals; thus, they are becoming increasingly valued and widely used in aquaculture. The present review summarizes the promising antiviral activities of medicinal plants and their active pharmaceutical ingredients against aquatic viruses. Furthermore, it also explains their possible mechanisms of action and possible implications in the prevention or treatment of viral diseases in aquaculture. This article could lay the foundation for the future development of harmless drugs for the prevention and control of viral disease outbreaks in aquaculture.

Recent advances on the regulation of bacterial biofilm formation by herbal medicines

“…These works on bacterial biofilm formation have provided many potential therapeutic targets for the development of antibacterial drugs. Many TCMs from natural compounds are well-known for their safety and less toxicity to host ( Flower et al, 2015 ; Liao et al, 2022 ). The different chemical classes of TCMs metabolites with antibacterial activity act in the QS system and second messenger signaling pathways mainly by reducing the production of signaling molecules or competing for receptor proteins, and no TCMs’ metabolites with enzymatic activity to degrade signaling molecules have been discovered.…”

“…The standardized formulae of CHMs are now commonly used as tablets, capsules, and even ampoules as well as the traditional decoctions of individualized prescriptions ( Tang et al, 2008 ; Kong et al, 2009 ). As natural active drugs, CHMs have the advantages of abundant resources, higher safety, and lower toxicity compared with chemically synthesized drugs ( Flower et al, 2015 ; Liao et al, 2022 ). However, due to the complex composition of CHMs, the large-scale application of TCMs is limited.…”

The antiviral activity of currently used medicinal plants in aquaculture and structure–activity relationship of their active ingredients

“…Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) is a pathogenic virus belonging to the family Iridoviridae, which mainly affects various species of fish, especially groupers 81 . SGIV infection can cause extensive damage to fish farms, leading to high mortality rates and significant economic losses.…”

“…SGIV infection can cause extensive damage to fish farms, leading to high mortality rates and significant economic losses. The virus can infect multiple organs and tissues, including the liver, spleen, kidney and gills, ultimately causing organ failure and death 81 . Although an inactivated SGIV vaccine is currently available on the market, its effectiveness relies on the intraperitoneal injection of the vaccine in grouper, which may have certain limitations such as incomplete inactivation risk and higher dose and cost of immunisation in aquatic animals compared to terrestrial animals 81 .…”

“…Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) is a pathogenic virus belonging to the family Iridoviridae, which mainly affects various species of fish, especially groupers. 81 SGIV infection can cause extensive damage to fish farms, leading to high mortality rates and significant economic losses. The virus can infect multiple organs and tissues, including the liver, spleen, kidney and gills, ultimately causing organ failure and death.…”