Skip to main content
. 2021 Sep 17;8:679312. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.679312

Table 1.

Compilation of antiviral properties and effects of selected nutraceuticals.

Name Virus Mechanism of action Effect
Resveratrol (5, 11) Influenza virus 1. The active blocking of nucleocytoplasmic translocation of viral ribonucleoproteins in MDCK cells
2. Inhibition of protein kinase C associated mechanism.
Inhibition of in-vitro and in-vivo viral Replication and protein expression
Epstein-Barr Virus 1. Inhibition of EBV early antigen induction (through Raji cells), EBV lytic cycle, transcription genes and proteins, Rta, Zta, and diffused early antigen (EAD), EBV immediate-early protein: BRLF1 and BZLF1 promoters, transcription factors NF-κβ and AP1.
2. Downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins: Mc 1 STAT-3, miR-155, and miR-34a
3. Reduction in ROS production
1. Decrease in papilloma production, virion production
2. Inhibition of viral protein synthesis and transformation in human B-cells
Herpes Simplex Virus 1. Decreased production of early viral protein ICP-4.
2. Induce the rapid and sustained release of ROS.
3. Inhibition of NF-κβ, extracellular signal-regulated kinases/mitogen-activated protein kinases (Erk/MAPK), immediate-early, early, and late HSV genes.
1. Reversible, dose-dependent inhibition of virus replication In-vitro and in-vivo
2. Prevention of viral reactivation in neuron cells, cutaneous lesions in abraded skin and vaginal lesions,
Respiratory Syncytial Virus 1. Modulation of toll-like receptor 3 expression
2. Inhibition of toll/IL-1R domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN (TRIF) signaling, matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP-12), TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1) protein expression, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, and nerve growth factor (NGF) secretion
3. Induction of muscarinic 2 receptor (M2R) and upregulation of sterile-α- and armadillo motif-containing protein (SARM) expression
1. Reduction in the level of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)
2. Decreased number of inflammatory cells, reduction of inflammation reflex and airway inflammation.
3. Inhibition of viral replication
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 1. Inhibition DNA synthesis during the reverse transcription process
2. Activation of lytic cycle of HIV-1 in vitro;
1. Inhibition of HIV-1 replication in-vitro
2. attenuation of the Tat-induced HIV-1 LTR trans activation in-vitro
Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) 1. Reversible, dose-dependent inhibition of MRC-5 cells
2. Decrease the synthesis of intermediate early protein (IE 62)
Inhibition of VZV replication in vitro
Enterovirus 71 1. Phosphorylation of proinflammatory cytokines (IKKα, IKKβ, IKKγ, IKBα, NF-κβ p50, and NF-κβ p65)
2. Inhibition of IL-6 and TNF-α Secretion
Inhibition of viral protein (VP-1) synthesis
Duck Enteritis Virus 1. Inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-1α, IL-6, and TNF-α), chemokines (CXCL10 and CCL4) secretion
2. Suppression of NF-κβ and interferon regulating factor (IRF-3)
1. Inhibition of viral replication, protein synthesis in-vitro.
2. Reduction of cellular oxidative damage.
Human Metapneumonia Virus 1. Suppression of proinflammatory mediators (IL-1α, IL-6, and TNF-α) and chemokines (CXCL10 and CCL4) secretion
2. Inhibitory effect on NF-κβ and interferon regulating factor (IRF-3)
1. Inhibition of viral replication
2. Reduction of cellular oxidative damage and oxidation stress
African Swine Fever Virus Inhibition of protein synthesis and virion formation Inhibition of viral replication in-vitro.
Human Rhinovirus 1. Suppression of HRV-induced expression of ICAM-1
2. Inhibition of IL-6, IL-8, and RANTES secretion.
Anti-inflammatory effect
Cytomegalovirus Inhibition of activated epidermal growth factors (EGF), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase signal transduction, NF-κβ and Sp1 transcription factors Inhibition of HCMV replication and viral protein synthesis in vitro
Polyomavirus Blocking of DNA synthesis in a dose dependent manner Inhibition of viral replication in-vitro
Quercetin (6, 12) Duck Enteritis Virus Along with Resveratrol, it suppressed proinflammatory mediators (IL-1α, IL-6, and TNF-α) and chemokines (CXCL10 and CCL4) secretion Lowering of cellular oxidative damage
Human Metapneumonia Virus Along with Resveratrol it inhibits secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-1α, IL-6, and TNF-α) and chemokines (CXCL10 and CCL4) Reduction of cellular oxidative damage
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) Along with TNF, quercetin increases the activity of IFN-β and up-regulates the IFN-β
Production
Potentiates the dose dependent inhibitory effect of TNF on viral replication.
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) Along with TNF, quercetin increases IFN-β activity and up-regulates the production of IFN-β. Potentiates the dose dependent inhibitory effect of TNF on viral replication
Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) Along with TNF, quercetin increases the action of IFN-β and up-regulates the production of IFN-β. Potentiates the dose dependent inhibitory effect of TNF on viral multiplication
Parainfluenza virus type 3 (Pf3) Inhibits the DNA replication in-vitro dose-dependent reduction in the infectivity of virus
Curcumin (7, 8) Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) Down regulation of the immediate early (IE) genes. Inhibition of HSV-1 replication
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Obstruction of HIV-1 LTR-directed gene expression, Tat-assisted transactivation (Tat protein acetylation) of HIV-1 LTR, HIV-1 and HIV-2 proteases, HIV-1 Integrase Inhibition of proviral DNA formation, functional protein formation from viral polyprotein and integration of proviral DNA into host DNA
Influenza Virus Inhibition of NF-κβ signaling Inhibition of hemagglutination and viral propagation
Hepatitis B virus Increase in the level of p53 Inhibition of viral DNA replication
Hepatitis C virus Inhibition of the Akt-SREBP-1 pathway Inhibition of viral DNA replication
Coxsackievirus Dysregulation of ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) 1. Inhibition of viral DNA replication, RNA expression
2. Protection against virus-induced apoptosis and cytopathic activity
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) 1. Modulation of cellular levels of stress-related proteins and restoration of membrane integrity
2. Reduction of pro-apoptotic signaling molecules and ROS at cellular level
Provides neuroprotective effect
Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) 1. Suppression of DNA binding, transcriptional effect of AP-1 in HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines
and JunD protein expression
1. Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis
2. Inhibition of HTLV-1 replication in infected T-cell
EGCG (8) Influenza Virus The active blocking of nucleo-cytoplasmic translocation of viral ribonucleoproteins in MDCK cells Dose dependent inhibition of virus
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Inhibition of α-glucosidase. Decrease the infectivity of virus
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Inhibition of NS3/4A protease 1. Inhibition of virus maturation
2. Decrease in pathogenicity
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) Along with TNF, quercetin increases the action of IFN-β and upregulates the production of IFN-β Potentiates the dose dependent inhibitory effect of TNF on viral replication.
Enterovirus (EV) 1.Inhibition of Viral DNA replication in G6PD-deficient cells.
2. Reduction of EV associated cellular oxidative stress
1. Inhibition of infectious progeny virion formation.
2. Decrease of viral propagation
NAC (9, 13) Pneumococcal meningitis 1. Scavenging Reactive Oxidation Species
2. Inhibition of inflammatory cytokines
1. Prevention of intracellular oxidation stress.
2. Prevention of Viral Pathogenesis
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) 1. Scavenging Reactive Oxidation Species
2. Inhibition of inflammatory cytokines
1. Prevention of intracellular oxidation stress.
2. Decrease in viral pathogenesis
Swine flu (H1N1) virus 1. Inhibit the down regulation of pulmonary catalase, glutathione and superoxide dismutase
2. Scavenging Reactive Oxidation Species
1. Prevention of intracellular oxidation stress.
2. Prevention of Viral Pathogenesis
Bird Flu (H5N1) virus Inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α), chemokines (e.g., IP10) secretion from primary human macrophages in –vitro 1. Prevention of intracellular oxidation stress.
2. Prevention of Viral Pathogenesis
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 1. Scavenging Reactive Oxidation Species
2. Deactivation of cellular transcription factor (NFK-β)
3. Inhibition of the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-a) secretion and HIV-1 LTR-directed gene expression
1. Prevention of intracellular oxidation stress.
2. Prevention of Viral Pathogenesis
3. Inhibition of HIV-transcription and replication
PEA (10, 14) Influenza and common cold 1. Inhibition of the like TNF-α, IL- 1, IL-6, and IL-10.
2. Inhibit adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, P-selectin) and NF-κB expression
1. Prevention of Viral Pathogenesis
2. Alleviation of the symptoms

Certain nutraceuticals have inhibitory effects against a range of viruses in animal and human studies. With the advent of a novel coronavirus strain, nutraceuticals pose as a safer and an efficient substitute to help in offering the relief in those infected with encapsulated RNA viruses.