New advances in anti-HSV chemotherapy

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Pharmacology
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections pose a significant health challenge as current treatments face limitations.
• Existing therapies, primarily nucleoside analogues like acyclovir, are increasingly ineffective due to drug-resistant strains.
• Adverse effects associated with conventional anti-herpetic drugs necessitate the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the anti-HSV activity of clinically approved drugs.
• To investigate the potential of natural compounds, including antimicrobial peptides and plant extracts, as novel anti-herpetic agents.
• To provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of these emerging therapies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on anti-HSV agents.
• Analysis of clinical and preclinical data for approved drugs and natural compounds.
• Evaluation of mechanisms of action, including viral entry inhibition and direct effects on the viral envelope.

Main Results:

• Nucleoside analogues (e.g., acyclovir) and pyrophosphate analogues (e.g., foscarnet) are established treatments but face resistance and toxicity.
• Cationic antimicrobial peptides show promise by interfering with viral adsorption and entry.
• Ethnomedicinal plant extracts demonstrate significant anti-herpetic activity, warranting further investigation.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for novel antiviral agents against HSV due to resistance and side effects of current drugs.
• Natural compounds, particularly antimicrobial peptides and plant-derived molecules, represent a promising avenue for developing new HSV therapies.
• Further research is essential to validate the efficacy and safety of these natural agents for clinical use.