ABSTRACT
In recent years, the healthcare industry has faced tremendous challenges in combating viral diseases, including epidemics and pandemics worldwide. Advances in various medical fronts have led to the development of new allopathic remedies. However, phytochemicals derived from plants have emerged as highly efficient candidates for treating and controlling viral infections, reasserting as the primary source to combat modern viral diseases. Synthetic drugs often have narrow therapeutic window, adverse side effects and face issues with drug resistance. As a result, there is growing demand for research focused on discovering new and noble plant-derived drugs and herbal formulations to combat viral diseases. Although plant-derived phytochemicals have been utilized since ancient times, it is only in recent decades that researchers have shown increasing interest in harnessing the therapeutic potential of natural products, particularly compounds of plant origin. Plants can synthesize and conserve various phytochemicals, many of which are extractable and possess medicinal properties against viral diseases. Traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy in India are renowned for their healthcare practices, serving humankind worldwide. Herbal medicine continues to play a significant role, accounting for about 25%–30% of primary healthcare in developing countries, thanks to its cultural acceptability, better adaptability with the human body, and lesser side effects. This chapter, titled “Medicinal plants and herbs fortune for antiviral drug discovery,” compiles information on some potential medicinal plants and herbs reported for their proven antiviral activities and other medicinal properties. It also supplements insights regarding the proven antiviral properties of these medicinal plants and herbs and their potential to address the challenges in combating viral diseases in the coming times.
