Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and the Role of Phytochemicals in the Anti-Viral Effects of Different Medicinal Plants Against Infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes acute as well as chronic inflammation in the liver. Its high prevalence with over 23.7 cases per 100,000 population in the world marks it as a global health problem. Majority of HCV infections progress to chronic conditions which may lead to development of cirrhosis and hepatic cancer. Intervention with new generation of interferon (IFN)-free treatment regimen involving combinations of direct-acting anti-viral (DAA) drugs has markedly improved the sustained virological response (SVR) to >90%. However, limited access to anti-viral drugs, high price, and emergence of drug-resistant HCV strains impede the impact of these drugs. They highlight the need for development of highly acceptable, cost-effective, and safe treatment modalities suitable for long-term treatment. Existence of distinct HCV genotypes in diverse geographic locations further complicates the design of effective treatment strategies. Natural products are considered to be the best resource for development of safe and effective pharmaceuticals. Increasing volume of literature has defined the effect of medicinal herbs against HCV infections. The present chapter reviews the plants and their isolated compounds having high anti-viral potency against HCV. Some of the potential extracts and traditional formulations tested for clinical efficacy in randomized clinical trials are also reviewed. The information may be of value in designing new efficacious, safe, and cost-effective drugs for management of chronic hepatitis C infections.