ABSTRACT
Several of phenolic compounds were evaluated for antiherpes virus activity by B. Konig and J.H. Dustmann, who were interested in antimicrobial and antiviral constituents of propolis, a therapeutic preparation consisting primarily of caffeoyl compounds derived by honeybees from plant resins. They compared the compounds in a series of yield reduction assays, in chick embryo fibroblasts, of three avian herpes viruses, derived from owl, parrot, and pigeon origins. Caffeic acid has been used in clinical trials, but without much success. There are basically two kinds of tannins, the condensed type which resemble flavonoids, and the hydrolyzable type which commonly consist of relatively simple phenolic acids. Tannins, the condensed polymers of the related gallic acid, has antiviral activity which was directed against a broad range of viruses. Salicylates simple phenolic compounds are common constituents of plants, where they often occur as esters of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid. Some salicylates also possess more direct antiviral properties.
