Antiviral Protection and Therapy of Natural Products

Abstract

In latest years, researchers have been concerned about the resistance, recurrence, and dormancy of viruses that occurs in the prevention and treatment of viruses. Regarding the current pandemic conditions reported not only to the SARSCoV-2 virus (2019), but also to the SARS-CoV-1 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus from 2013) and MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus from 2018), it is mentioned that there are scientific publications that demonstrate the benefits of treatments with natural products. Some natural products rich in phytonutrients can be used as an alternative to the prevention and treatment of viral diseases along with some treatments with pharmaceuticals that are very good, but are more aggressive towards the body. Some of the natural products – to be more effective – are used in processed form – as essential oils, as products obtained by distillation under specific conditions, as tinctures or as aqueous or alcoholic extracts – these being tested by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Asia is one of the continent with a tradition in natural herbal treatments, and the origin of these pandemic viruses has further driven researchers to seek and develop new techniques and methods to obtain natural products – concentrated enough to be effective but not no harm to patients. Also, the World Health Organization promotes innovations regarding new potential treatments for new viral diseases and also welcomes traditional, alternative, and complementary medicine – which can have an important role in healthcare. And because some of the viral diseases are found also in animals and humans – the researchers have a very complicated job to find therapies that not only treat and prevent but also are efficient and safe!

Keywords

• viruses
• natural products
• viral diseases