Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals

Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access

ISSN: 1948-5964

+44 1300 500008

Exploitation of antiviral activity of traditionally used medicinal plants


International Conference and Exhibition on VIROLOGY

5-7 September 2011 Baltimore, USA

Sanjita Das

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JAA

Abstract :

The indigenous people of India use many plants to cure various viral. Th e claimed traditional uses have been proved on scientifi c basis using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Natural antiviral treatments are a very powerful option for treating viruses. When antiviral herbs and antiviral essential oils are used, healing time is reduced, and side eff ects are practically unheard of. Th is study is aimed at to explore the herbal origins for potent antiviral agents. Some of the best antiviral herbs include garlic, oregano, astragalus, echinacea, schizandra, mullein, elderberry, green tea, and licorice. Th e natural foods and herbs below have been proven to be highly eff ective anitivirals, which may assist the body in fi ghting the Bird Flu and the Swine Flu. Some of the herbs are also known to suppress the cytokine storm (cytokines TNF-a and IL-6), which are known to cause infl ammation and complications in infl uenza infections. Th e aqueous extracts from 21 medicinal herbs traditionally used in southern mainland China were screened for antiviral activities against human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using a cytopathic eff ect (CPE) reduction assay and found to have signifi cant antiviral activity. Various extracts from 30 medicinal plants were evaluated for their antiviral activity against infl uenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) and cytotoxicity in MDCK cell culture, out of which methanolic extracts of the six main plants might be useful for the treatment of infl uenza virus H1N1. Aegle marmelos, Cynodon dactylon, Lantana camara, Momordica charantia and Phyllantus amarus showed antiviral activity against WSSV. Th e aerial parts of Pterocaulon sphacelatum (Asteraceae) and roots of Dianella longifolia var. grandis (Liliaceae) were found to inhibit poliovirus. Th e extracts of Euphorbia australis and Scaevola spinescens were also found to be active against HCMV. Th e present study provides some new and potent antivirals to the fi eld of medicine which will help in reintroduction of confi dence in its users.

Biography :

Dr. Sanjita Das has completed her PhD and M.Pharm in Pharmacology from Birla Institute of Technology. She is the Head of the Department of Pharmacology, Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology, Greater Noida, India. She has published 26 publications in reputed Journals an as serving as an editorial board member of repute. She has worked as a reviewer for many reputed journals. She is guiding six PhD scholars. She is a member of Indian Pharmacology Society, Indian Chemical Society, Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Indian Pharmaceutical Graduates Association, Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India, and Indian Technical Society. Now she is involved in exploitation of medicinal values of the traditionally used plant sources and bioavailability studies of different medicinal products.

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