lignans and Hepatitis-C--Chronic

Hepatitis C is a major global health burden with an estimated 160 million infected individuals worldwide. This long-term disease evolves slowly, often leading to chronicity and potentially to liver failure. There is no anti-HCV vaccine, and, until recently, the only treatment available, based on pegylated interferon and ribavirin, was partially effective, and had considerable side effects. With recent advances in the understanding of the HCV life cycle, the development of promising direct acting antivirals (DAAs) has been achieved. Their use in combination with the current treatment has led to encouraging results for HCV genotype 1 patients. However, this therapy is quite expensive and will probably not be accessible for all patients worldwide. For this reason, constant efforts are being made to identify new antiviral molecules. Recent reports about natural compounds highlight their antiviral activity against HCV. Here, we aim to review the natural molecules that interfere with the HCV life cycle and discuss their potential use in HCV therapy.

Topics: Antiviral Agents; Flavones; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Lignans; Liver; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Silymarin; Viral Nonstructural Proteins; Virus Attachment; Virus Internalization; Virus Replication

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently causes chronic hepatitis, which is linked to the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Most physicians who practice Kampo medicine in Japan have observed that Kampo medicine can be as effective as interferon therapy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. In the present study, to evaluate the effect of Kampo medicine on chronic hepatitis C, clinical treatment was assessed in short-term and long-term study, and it was shown that ninjin-yoei-to (Formula ginseng compositae: TJ-108) was very effective. Therefore, to find the most active herbal component of TJ-108 in the treatment of HCV, Citrus Unshiu Peel, Schisandra Fruit, and Polygala Root, which are specific to TJ-108, were screened using an in vitro HCV infection model. Among the three herbs, Schisandra Fruit was found to be most active. In the next step, Gomisin A, an active component of Schisandra Fruit, was studied using an in vitro model with MOLT-4 cells and an animal model of immunologically induced acute hepatic failures. It is concluded that the therapeutic effect of TJ-108 on chronic hepatitis C is from the inhibitory effect on HCV infection, and also from the protective effect on immunological hepatopathy of Schisandra Fruit and its lignan component, Gomisin A.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Cell Line; Cyclooctanes; Dioxoles; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Lignans; Liver Diseases; Liver Failure; Medicine, Kampo; Mice; Middle Aged; Plant Extracts; RNA, Viral; Time Factors