Antiviral and Therapeutic Uses of Medicinal Plants and Their Derivatives against Dengue Viruses

Abstract

Dengue fever (DF) is occurring worldwide, and it has emerged as a global health threat due to high mortality and morbidity, specifically in tropical and subtropical regions. The World Health Organization has deep concerned to this disease being a large section of population affected. Around 2.5 billion peoples are at risk of dengue virus (DENV). Over 100 countries including Europe and the United states are affected due to DENV. DF is the most widespread viral disease. There are four different serotypes (DENV‑1 to DENV‑4) of DENV but now discovered DENV‑5 serotype also. DENV is transmitted from person to person by the bite of infected female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito. Unfortunately, there are no effective approved anti‑dengue agents and vaccine to treat viral infection. Researchers have paid attention toward medicinal plants in search of natural compounds which can be used as anti‑dengue. Therefore, our focus is on the extract of medicinal plants which may be more effective, safer, and less toxic than synthetic drugs. In the present review paper, the brief description of 35 medicinal plants which possess anti‑dengue activity has been documented along with their active components. This study will be helpful to establish that natural products may have good potential source of new anti‑dengue compounds.

Keywords: Aedes aegypti; dengue fever; derivatives; medicinal plants; mosquito; serotype