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Review
. 2022 Nov 11;23(22):13891.
doi: 10.3390/ijms232213891.

Insights into Antiviral Properties and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Flavonoid Polyphenols against Human Herpesviruses

Sherif T S Hassan  1 , Miroslava Šudomová  2 , Alena Mazurakova  3   4 , Peter Kubatka  3
Affiliations
Review

Insights into Antiviral Properties and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Flavonoid Polyphenols against Human Herpesviruses

Sherif T S Hassan et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Herpesviruses are one of the most contagious DNA viruses that threaten human health, causing severe diseases, including, but not limited to, certain types of cancer and neurological complications. The overuse and misuse of anti-herpesvirus drugs are key factors leading to drug resistance. Therefore, targeting human herpesviruses with natural products is an attractive form of therapy, as it might improve treatment efficacy in therapy-resistant herpesviruses. Plant polyphenols are major players in the health arena as they possess diverse bioactivities. Hence, in this article, we comprehensively summarize the recent advances that have been attained in employing plant non-flavonoid polyphenols, such as phenolic acids, tannins and their derivatives, stilbenes and their derivatives, lignans, neolignans, xanthones, anthraquinones and their derivatives, curcuminoids, coumarins, furanocoumarins, and other polyphenols (phloroglucinol) as promising anti-herpesvirus drugs against various types of herpesvirus such as alpha-herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 and varicella-zoster virus), beta-herpesviruses (human cytomegalovirus), and gamma-herpesviruses (Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus). The molecular mechanisms of non-flavonoid polyphenols against the reviewed herpesviruses are also documented.

Keywords: Epstein–Barr virus (EBV); HSV-1; HSV-2; Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV); antiviral activity; herpes simplex virus; human cytomegalovirus (HCMV); natural products; non-flavonoid polyphenols; polyphenols; varicella-zoster virus (VZV).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
An illustration displays an overview of the herpesvirus life cycle.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Non-flavonoid polyphenols with anti-herpesvirus properties validated by animal experiments. EBV, Epstein–Barr virus; HCMV, human cytomegalovirus; HSV-1, herpes simplex virus type 1; HSV-2; herpes simplex virus type 2; TA-AgNPs, tannic acid-modified silver nanoparticles.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chemical structures of the reviewed non-flavonoid polyphenols.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chemical structures of the reviewed non-flavonoid polyphenols.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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