Systematic Review of Alkaloids and Their Analogues as Therapeutic Agents for Human Herpesvirus Infection

Herpesviruses are globally prevalent pathogens that pose serious threats to human health due to their neurotropism, lifelong latency, and recurrent reactivation characteristics. These viruses can cause various diseases including herpes keratitis, encephalitis, and several malignancies, with severe cases potentially leading to death. Although multiple anti-herpesvirus drugs are currently available in clinical practice, they generally suffer from significant toxicity and drug resistance issues, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic agents. In recent years, alkaloids and their derivatives have demonstrated remarkable potential in anti-herpesvirus therapy. These natural products exhibit potent antiviral activity through multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms. This article systematically reviews the specific antiviral mechanisms, toxicity profiles, and clinical research progress of various alkaloids against herpesviruses. By thoroughly analyzing the molecular targets of alkaloids and their derivatives, we aim to provide theoretical foundations for developing novel antiviral drugs or optimizing combination treatment strategies.