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

Abstract

Aquaculture is an important source of high‐quality protein and plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security. However, viral diseases have caused significant damage to aquaculture production, making it necessary to develop effective measures to treat them. Although drugs are commonly used to treat viral diseases, recent studies have shown that crude extracts of medicinal plants and their active ingredients have potential applications in the treatment of aquatic viral diseases. Furthermore, natural small molecule compounds from herbs could be used as lead compounds to develop more potent anti‐aquatic virus derivatives. As such, there is an urgent need to develop and apply drugs for the treatment of viral disease outbreaks in aquaculture. In this review, we summarize previous studies on the efficacy of different agents used as antiviral drugs in aquaculture, with a focus on their protective effects. Additionally, we highlight the potential of active natural compounds isolated from medicinal plants, which could serve as lead compounds for developing aquatic‐specific drugs. However, the relationship between the structure of a compound and its antiviral activity in aquaculture has not been clearly elucidated, posing a challenge for further drug optimisation. Therefore, this study also analyses the structure–activity relationship of several reported lead compounds and their derivatives in aquaculture, providing a reference for subsequent drug development efforts.

Deciphering the importance of herbal immunostimulants in aquaculture, using citation network analysis: A futuristic sustainable approach

“…Herbal extracts act as immunostimulants to boost fish immune responses against bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic diseases [ [11] , [26] ]. According to several research, medicinal herbs can improve fish's non-specific immune responses (innate immune responses) [ 27 ].…”

Attenuation of cannabis withdrawal symptoms by Prosopis farcta extract, its luteolin and melatonin in mice: Involvement of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and dopamine

“…In addition to the antioxidant effects and regulation of the body's immunity and induction of sedation, it has also been effective in mood regulation 17 . Medicinal plants and natural products are useful sources of novel and safer compounds for drug withdrawal management 18 . Prosopis farcta has been used in the treatment of neurological disorders and pains 19 .…”

“…17 Medicinal plants and natural products are useful sources of novel and safer compounds for drug withdrawal management. 18 Prosopis farcta has been used in the treatment of neurological disorders and pains. 19 Some of the phytochemicals in this plant are toxin, quercetin, tryptamine, apigenin, 5-5-hydroxytryptamine,L-arabinose, and luteolin.…”

Kaempferol is a novel antiviral agent against channel catfish virus infection through blocking viral attachment and penetration in vitro

“…Traditional Chinese medicine, including crude plant extracts, natural compounds, and their analogs (8), act as important sources of therapeutic agents and have been frequently applied in the diseases treatment of humans, poultry, and livestock with high bioactivity and bioavailability as well as minimal side effects (9)(10)(11). For example, it was found that the natural compounds resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, and quercetin, which belonged to the polyphenols, exhibited significant antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Zika virus, and dengue virus (12)(13)(14)(15).…”

“…For example, it was found that the natural compounds resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, and quercetin, which belonged to the polyphenols, exhibited significant antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Zika virus, and dengue virus (12)(13)(14)(15). In recent decades, phytomedicines have also been widely used in aquaculture and some natural compounds have been reported against aquatic animal viral diseases (8). For instance, for grass carp hemorrhagic disease, magnolol and honokiol extracted from Magnolia had a significant inhibitory effect on the replication of grass carp reovirus in vitro and in vivo via activating the host antiviral immune response (16,17).…”