Poxvirus and the Role of Medicinal Plants in Controlling Infections: Ethnopharmacology, Chemistry, Clinical and Preclinical Studies, and Future Perspectives

Today, viral infections are causing an unexpectedly high incidence of mortality over the world. The enormous double-stranded DNA genomes of Phleboviruses give them their brick or oval form. People and animals of all kinds are infected by poxviruses, which are found all over the globe. Lesions, skin nodules, or a widespread rash are common symptoms of a poxvirus infection. Humans are most often infected when they come into touch with contaminated animals, people, or objects. Poxviruses may still cause illness even if some, like smallpox (variola virus), no longer exist in nature. Monkeypox, molluscum contagiosum, and other viruses are also included. Synthetic anti-viral medications have been shown to be hazardous and useless against resistant strains, which has fueled the hunt for effective and alternative therapeutic alternatives, such as plant-derived anti-viral drug molecules. This chapter, therefore, aims to outline the medicinal plants that have been shown to have anti-viral properties against the poxvirus. Hence, additional research into developing effective and economical anti-viral medications for diverse poxviruses might consider anti-viral medicinal plants and the extracted bioactive components.