Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants: A Promising Frontier for Antiviral Research in the Age of Pandemics

The recent outbreaks of viral infections have underscored the urgent need for effective antiviral agents. While synthetic antivirals are frequently employed, they may have limited efficacy and cause negative side effects due to their synthetic nature. An alternative approach that holds promise is phytotherapy, which employs medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites to treat various infections. Herbal remedies offer several advantages, such as lower toxicity and increased efficacy in some viral outbreaks. As extraction technology and customized delivery systems continue to advance, herbal-based therapies are gaining greater popularity. The current review article summarizes the various phytoconstituents isolated from medicinal plants that have demonstrated effectiveness against viral diseases, such as hepatitis B (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), coronavirus, and influenza virus. The review comprehensively examines the scientific literature on phytoconstituents, antiviral activity, and viral diseases found on Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Research Gate databases using significant keywords and a duration window set between 1995 and 2022. The analysis suggests that the aerial parts of plants have been primarily screened for their antiviral properties, while the tubers/roots still need to be extensively explored. There is significant potential for the formulation of herbal extracts, and research in this area could lead to the development of new therapeutic options.