ANTI-VIRAL EFFECTS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DENGUE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2017 Jul 7;14(4 Suppl):33-40. doi: 10.21010/ajtcam.v14i4S.5. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Background: Dengue is considered as an important arboviral disease. Safe, low-cost, and effective drugs that possess inhibitory activity against dengue virus (DENV) are mostly needed to try to combat the dengue infection worldwide. Medicinal plants have been considered as an important alternative to manage several diseases, such as dengue. As authors have demonstrated the antiviral effect of medicinal plants against DENV, the aim of this study was to review systematically the published research concerning the use of medicinal plants in the management of dengue using the PubMed database.

Materials and methods: Search and selection of publications were made using the PubMed database following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA statement).

Results: Six publications met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final selection after thorough analysis.

Conclusion: It is suggested that medicinal plants' products could be used as potential anti-DENV agents.

Keywords: Dengue; PubMed; arbovirus; medicinal plants.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dengue / drug therapy*
  • Flavonoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Flavonoids
  • Plant Extracts