naphthoquinones and Virus-Diseases

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Middle Aged; Naphthoquinones; Ointments; Skin Diseases, Infectious; Virus Diseases

In this perspective, we propose to leverage reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction as a potential therapeutic measure against viral infections. Our rationale for targeting RNA viral infections by pro-oxidants is routed on the mechanistic hypothesis that ROS based treatment paradigm could impair RNA integrity faster than the other macromolecules. Though antiviral drugs with antioxidant properties confer potential abilities for preventing viral entry, those with pro-oxidant properties could induce the degradation of nascent viral RNA within the host cells, as RNAs are highly prone to ROS mediated degradation than DNA/proteins. We have previously established that Plumbagin is a highly potent ROS inducer, which acts through shifting of the host redox potential. Besides, it has been reported that Plumbagin treatment has the potential for interrupting viral RNA replication within the host cells. Since the on-going Corona Virus Disease - 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic mediated by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) exhibits high infectivity, the development of appropriate antiviral therapeutic strategies remains to be an urgent unmet race against time. Therefore, additional experimental validation is warranted to determine the appropriateness of repurposable drug candidates, possibly ROS inducers, for fighting the pandemic which could lead to saving many lives from being lost to COVID-19.

Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; COVID-19; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Humans; Naphthoquinones; Pandemics; Reactive Oxygen Species; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Virus Diseases

It was shown for the first time that the antiviral drug bonafton administered orally to nonlinear albino mice in single doses of 5, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg induced production of interferon in the animal blood serum. The maximum interferon titer of 160-320 IU/ml was observed 18 hours after the drug administration in a dose of 12.5 mg/kg. In low doses of 5 to 12.5 mg/kg bonafton increased the nonspecific resistance of the mice to experimental viral infections when administered orally in single doses not earlier than 2 weeks prior to the contamination. The ability of the drug to stimulate the host protective forces probably plays a certain role in the mechanism of its therapeutic action in severe viral infections of man such as severe recurring ophthalmic herpes, genital herpes, Behçet's disease, Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome and others.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Immunity, Innate; Interferon Inducers; Interferons; Mice; Naphthoquinones; Time Factors; Virus Diseases

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antiviral Agents; Biphenyl Compounds; Child; Drug Evaluation; Gossypol; Humans; Middle Aged; Naphthalenes; Naphthoquinones; Ointments; Resorcinols; Skin Diseases, Infectious; Virus Diseases