Medicinal Plants Against Human Adenovirus Type 1 Infections: Ethnopharmacology, Chemistry, and Clinical and Preclinical Studies

Adenoviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses responsible for respiratory infections, eye infections, epidemic conjunctivitis, and gastroenteritis in children, adolescents, and elders. Adenovirus is a tumor virus that is separated from humans; therefore, it is the first viral virus isolated from humans. The core virion has a spherical capsid with 12 fibers, a nonenveloped capsid with icosahedron structure, and a complex structure constituted of 15 structural proteins. The capsid is composed of hexons and pentons. There are four receptors viz: 6QU8, 4WX7, 4WX4, and 4PIE associated with adenovirus infection. In the management of this infection, plants like Peucedanum salinum, Punica granatum, Radix Lithospermi (especially shikonin), Zataria multiflora, Thymus daenensis, Thymus vulgaris, Eucalyptus plant, shallots, leeks, garlic, green onions, onions, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Camelia sinesis Kuntze, and fruits of Schisandra sphenanthera and their active constituents effectively inhibited the progression of the virus.