Exploring Medicinal Plant Resources for Combating Viral Diseases, Including COVID-19

This book chapter provides insight into the medicinal plant extracts and phytochemicals essential to combat several viral diseases, including coronavirus disease (COVID-19). First, this work focuses on the current antiviral treatments and the medicinal plant extracts that can be utilized for the treatment or combined with other antiviral drugs to prevent viral diseases and reduce toxic side effects. Next, this chapter discusses polyphenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins (PACs), and terpenes—monoterpenes, triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and glucosides—and how they are effective in treating viral diseases like influenza, hepatitis B and C viruses, and COVID-19. The next part specifically talks about the medicinal plants like amla, giloy, and extracts like Lianhua Qingwen, polyphenols, flavonoids, and more, which can help mitigate the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. Lastly, the book chapter explains the mechanisms by which the medicinal plants activate to prevent the replication and proliferation activity of enzymes and inhibit the binding of the virus with the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptors. Therefore, this book chapter gives brief and concise information regarding the different viral diseases and medicinal plants and their extracts for treating and preventing such viral diseases.