Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants: A Promising Anti-Dengue Therapy

What is it about?

The focus of our research paper is to identify specific traditional Chinese medicinal plants with potential for treating dengue virus infection. Our study validates the anti-dengue properties of these herbs, and aims to advance research by making them available for future studies. This research could possibly lead to the development of effective treatments for dengue fever caused by all four serotypes of DENV. We found that two lead plant extracts showed significant antiviral activity against different stages of viral replication, and discovered that flavonoids are one of the active components present in these herbal extracts.

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Photo by Erik Karits on Unsplash

Photo by Erik Karits on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Dengue virus is a major public health concern in many countries, and unfortunately there are currently no specific antiviral drugs available to treat the infection. Traditional Chinese medicinal plants have been used for centuries as complementary medicines by people living in endemic regions of DENV, and identifying lead plant extracts with anti-dengue potential can help bridge the gap between traditional medicine and modern research pipelines. This could help develop effective treatment options against all four serotypes of DENV that cause dengue fever, making it an important area of research for medical professionals.