Therapeutic approaches for chronic hepatitis C: a concise review

Allah Nawaz; Azhar Manzoor; Saeed Ahmed; Naveed Ahmed; Waseem Abbas; Mushtaq Ahmad Mir; Muhammad Bilal; Alisha Sheikh; Saleem Ahmad; Ishtiaq Jeelani; Takashi Nakagawa

doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1334160

Therapeutic approaches for chronic hepatitis C: a concise review

Front Pharmacol. 2024 Jan 12:14:1334160. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1334160. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Allah Nawaz^{1

2}, Azhar Manzoor³, Saeed Ahmed⁴, Naveed Ahmed⁵, Waseem Abbas², Mushtaq Ahmad Mir⁶, Muhammad Bilal⁷, Alisha Sheikh⁸, Saleem Ahmad⁹, Ishtiaq Jeelani², Takashi Nakagawa²

Affiliations

¹ Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States.
² Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
³ Department of Surgery, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Medicine, and Surgery, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.
⁵ Department of Pharmacy, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K), Pakistan.
⁶ Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
⁸ Jammu Institute of Ayurveda and Research, University of Jammu, Jammu, India.
⁹ Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant global health concern, prompting the need for effective treatment strategies. This in-depth review critically assesses the landscape of HCV treatment, drawing parallels between traditional interferon/ribavirin therapy historically pivotal in HCV management and herbal approaches rooted in traditional and complementary medicine. Advancements in therapeutic development and enhanced clinical outcomes axis on a comprehensive understanding of the diverse HCV genome, its natural variations, pathogenesis, and the impact of dietary, social, environmental, and economic factors. A thorough analysis was conducted through reputable sources such as Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, books, and dissertations. This review primarily focuses on the intricate nature of HCV genomes and explores the potential of botanical drugs in both preventing and treating HCV infections.

Keywords: botanical drugs; direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs); hepatitis C; hepatitis C virus; hepatoprotective and antiviral properties of medicinal plants.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article from Japan Foundation for Applied Enzymology (a grant for Front Runner of Future Diabetes Research (to AN). This work was supported by the Young Research Grant from the Japan Diabetes Society (to AN) and Cell Science Foundation (to AN).