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Review
. 2019 Jun 22;17(6):373.
doi: 10.3390/md17060373.

Metabolites of Seaweeds as Potential Agents for the Prevention and Therapy of Influenza Infection

Natalia Besednova  1 , Tatiana Zaporozhets  2 , Tatiana Kuznetsova  3 , Ilona Makarenkova  4 , Lydmila Fedyanina  5 , Sergey Kryzhanovsky  6 , Olesya Malyarenko  7 , Svetlana Ermakova  8
Affiliations
Review

Metabolites of Seaweeds as Potential Agents for the Prevention and Therapy of Influenza Infection

Natalia Besednova et al. Mar Drugs. .

Abstract

Context: Seaweed metabolites (fucoidans, carrageenans, ulvans, lectins, and polyphenols) are biologically active compounds that target proteins or genes of the influenza virus and host components that are necessary for replication and reproduction of the virus.

Objective: This review gathers the information available in the literature regarding to the useful properties of seaweeds metabolites as potential agents for the prevention and therapy of influenza infection.

Materials and methods: The sources of scientific literature were found in various electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect) and library search. The retrospective search depth is 25 years.

Results: Influenza is a serious medical and social problem for humanity. Recently developed drugs are quite effective against currently circulating influenza virus strains, but their use can lead to the selection of resistant viral strains. In this regard, new therapeutic approaches and drugs with a broad spectrum of activity are needed. Metabolites of seaweeds fulfill these requirements. This review presents the results of in vitro and in vivo experimental and clinical studies about the effectiveness of these compounds in combating influenza infection and explains the necessity of their use as a potential basis for the creation of new drugs with a broad spectrum of activity.

Keywords: Flu; alga; alginates; anti-viral activity; lectins; polyphenols; sulphated polysaccharides.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The life cycle of influenza virus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Antiviral activity of algae metabolites.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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