**4.4 Antiviral activity of** *Phyllanthus amarus*

Evaluation of antiviral activity of *Phyllanthus* species was evident from aqueous extract showing strong activity against viruses like HSV1 and HSV2 in vero cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. To study protein expressions of treated and untreated infected vero cells, western blot and 2D-gel electrophoresis were most widely used. *Phyllanthus amarus* along with *Phyllanthus urinaria* demonstrate the strongest antiviral activity against both HSV1 and HSV2 viruses which is proposed to its action in the early stage of replication and infection [37].

In conclusion, in the existing scenario, there is an essential need for the development of new antiviral drugs. As on date there are many epidemiological studies that have evaluated different targets of these antivirals and promising results were obtained. Still a lot of research is needed to find out the actual potential for human use.


**61**

**Author details**

India

Ganesh Kumar Anbazhagan1

provided the original work is properly cited.

*Antiviral Plant Extracts*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85126*

dreadful disease caused by viruses.

In comparison to synthetic counterparts, extracts obtained from *Boerhavia diffusa*, *Eclipta alba* and *Phyllanthus amarus* are tend to be safer, very effective and cheap. The extracts obtained from these plants might have compounds that are true antiviral, but are present at insufficient quantity to inactivate all infectious virus particles. It is very much possible that obtaining active constituents from these plants will be providing many useful leads in the development of effective antiviral agents. Thus there is an urgent need to find effective antiviral agents as the existing drugs may be effective but in a specific manner. Based on the existing knowledge of traditional medicine, these three plants have to be explored further for formulating effective drugs against various

\*, Sankarganesh Palaniyandi1,2\* and Baby Joseph2

1 Department of Microbiology, Hindustan College of Arts and Science, Chennai,

\*Address all correspondence to: ganethkumar@gmail.com and bilisankar@gmail.com

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

2 Centre for Research and Consultancy, Department of Food Technology, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Padur, Chennai, India

### *Antiviral Plant Extracts DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85126*

*Plant Extracts*

Several studies in the past have proved that *P. amarus* inhibits the activity of the HBsAg [35]. Widespread studies on *P. amarus* have showed that the extracts possess strong antiviral activities particularly against HBV and HCV. In Indian system of medicine, a chemo-biological fingerprinting methodology for standardization

Evaluation of antiviral activity of *Phyllanthus* species was evident from aqueous extract showing strong activity against viruses like HSV1 and HSV2 in vero cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. To study protein expressions of treated and untreated infected vero cells, western blot and 2D-gel electrophoresis were most widely used. *Phyllanthus amarus* along with *Phyllanthus urinaria* demonstrate the strongest antiviral activity against both HSV1 and HSV2 viruses which is proposed

In conclusion, in the existing scenario, there is an essential need for the development of new antiviral drugs. As on date there are many epidemiological studies that have evaluated different targets of these antivirals and promising results were obtained. Still a lot of research is needed to find out the actual potential for human use.

> paste is used to cure bloody dysentery. It is also used for leukorrhea, rheumatism and stomach ache. The root juice is used in treating asthma, scanty urine and internal inflammation disorders.

Remedy for catarrh in infants, toothache, headache and roots are emetic and purgative

Remedy for the treatment of bleeding, hemoptysis, hematuria and itching, hepatitis, diphtheria and

As a cooling and restorative herb, which supports the mind, nerves, liver and eyes

Used in the treatment of liver, kidney and bladder problems. Also used for diabetes and intestinal parasites

Used to eliminate gall bladder and kidney stones, and to treat gall bladder infections

Used in traditional medicine to treat liver diseases, asthma and

bronchial infections

diarrhea

Benefits Information

obtained from

Taiwan

China

Kidney stones Spain Houghton

Many parts of the world

South America

India Foo [30]

India Mitra and

India Puri [39]

Reference

Gupta [38]

Chevallier [22]

et al. [31]

of *P. amarus* preparation was even patented [36].

to its action in the early stage of replication and infection [37].

**4.4 Antiviral activity of** *Phyllanthus amarus*

used

leaf and roots

Entire plant

Entire plant

parts of the plant

Entire plant

Entire plant

Entire plant

*Boerhavia diffusa* Roots In the treatment of piles. Root

Ethnobotanical information Plant Parts

*Eclipta alba* Flowers,

*Phyllanthus amarus* Aerial

**60**

In comparison to synthetic counterparts, extracts obtained from *Boerhavia diffusa*, *Eclipta alba* and *Phyllanthus amarus* are tend to be safer, very effective and cheap. The extracts obtained from these plants might have compounds that are true antiviral, but are present at insufficient quantity to inactivate all infectious virus particles. It is very much possible that obtaining active constituents from these plants will be providing many useful leads in the development of effective antiviral agents. Thus there is an urgent need to find effective antiviral agents as the existing drugs may be effective but in a specific manner. Based on the existing knowledge of traditional medicine, these three plants have to be explored further for formulating effective drugs against various dreadful disease caused by viruses.
