Hepatitis C virus and natural compounds: a new antiviral approach?

Viruses. 2012 Oct 17;4(10):2197-217. doi: 10.3390/v4102197.

Abstract

Hepatitis C is a major global health burden with an estimated 160 million infected individuals worldwide. This long-term disease evolves slowly, often leading to chronicity and potentially to liver failure. There is no anti-HCV vaccine, and, until recently, the only treatment available, based on pegylated interferon and ribavirin, was partially effective, and had considerable side effects. With recent advances in the understanding of the HCV life cycle, the development of promising direct acting antivirals (DAAs) has been achieved. Their use in combination with the current treatment has led to encouraging results for HCV genotype 1 patients. However, this therapy is quite expensive and will probably not be accessible for all patients worldwide. For this reason, constant efforts are being made to identify new antiviral molecules. Recent reports about natural compounds highlight their antiviral activity against HCV. Here, we aim to review the natural molecules that interfere with the HCV life cycle and discuss their potential use in HCV therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Flavones / pharmacology
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects
  • Hepacivirus / enzymology*
  • Hepacivirus / pathogenicity
  • Hepacivirus / physiology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
  • Humans
  • Lignans / pharmacology
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / virology
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Silymarin / administration & dosage
  • Silymarin / pharmacology
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism
  • Virus Attachment
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Flavones
  • Lignans
  • NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus
  • Plant Extracts
  • Silymarin
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • ladanein