They fight viruses: With plant extracts they combat various infections

Researcher Guadalupe Ayora Talavera yesterday gave the keynote address "Natural Products from the Southeast Region: 20 Years of Searching for Natural Compounds with Antiviral Activity" at the Great Museum of the Mayan World, as part of the 20th International Meeting on Natural Products Research, which this year paid tribute to Dr. Luis M. Peña Rodríguez.

During her presentation, Ayora Talavera, a virology specialist, shared findings from two decades of research on the potential of plants from the region as sources of compounds with antiviral properties.

The scientist emphasized that the study of infectious diseases, especially those of viral origin, represents one of the most important challenges for contemporary medical science. In this context, she highlighted the limited availability of antivirals on the market: only about 100 of them are approved in the United States, and many emerging viruses still lack specific treatment.

Examples such as HIV and hepatitis C illustrate the persistent challenges in this field, which is why natural products have gained relevance as potential allies in the development of new treatments, not only against infections but also against diseases such as cancer.

Dr. Ayora explained that experimental trials were conducted to evaluate the antiviral activity of plant extracts, carefully establishing the most appropriate laboratory conditions and cell lines to test their efficacy.

The tests sought to inhibit different stages of the viral cycle: the virus's attachment to the cell, its entry, replication, and subsequent particle release. Since 2008, researchers have worked with various plants, including Hypericum silenoides (St. John's wort), Ardisia sp. (mountain pepper), Rhoeo discolor (purple agave), and aloe vera.

In some cases, certain extracts have been found to inhibit influenza virus replication, with varying levels of efficacy depending on the strain.

One of the most notable discoveries is that of the compound EPZ, extracted from the Diospyros anisandra plant—known as k'áa-kalche' or xnob che, endemic to Yucatán, Guatemala, and Cuba—which showed effectiveness against various strains of influenza, acting on the entire viral replication cycle.

Ayora Talavera emphasized the need to continue exploring natural compounds, given viral resistance and the lack of effective therapies. He highlighted the untapped potential of Mexican flora in the development of innovative antiviral agents.

Currently, several new lines of research are focusing on SARS-CoV-2 and arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.

The researcher also warned about the growing threat of the H5N1 virus, which causes avian flu, which has already had lethal consequences in the country, including the recent death of a minor.

The presentation concluded with a call to strengthen interdisciplinary research and to take advantage of the natural wealth of the southeast as a way to expand the therapeutic arsenal against viral diseases.— Karla Acosta Castillo