Current Status of Potential Antiviral Drugs Derived from Plant, Marine, and Microbial Sources

Abstract

Natural substances have been the principal source of medications since antiquity. Natural goods are gaining popularity as a source of novel medications. This article investigates a variety of variables like plant, marine, and microbial sources that contribute to the growing interest in natural goods as a source of novel medications. Viruses have remained resistant to treatment and prevention for a longer period than other forms of life. Viral diseases can currently only be treated with a limited number of drugs. Significant research initiatives have been committed to identifying novel antiviral natural compounds to fight viruses that harm people, plants, insects, animals, fungi, and microbes. A recent study of the prevalence and sources of antiviral medications licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has focused on natural products. Out of the estimated 250,000 higher plant species, only 5 to 15 percent have been thoroughly evaluated for the existence of bioactive substances in them, and the ability of the other species has hardly been investigated. This review aims to offer an overview of the crucial role played by natural products in the discovery and development of novel antiviral drugs with potent antiviral activity, including phytochemicals such as carbohydrates, coumarins, flavonoids, chromones, alkaloids, lignans, phenols, tannins, proteins, peptides, antiviral plant extracts, other marine, and microbial sources.