| abstract |
Use of sesquiterpenes, and in particular sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxides, such as artemisinin and its analogues, in the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. Artemisinin, artemisinin analogs and crude Atemisia extracts were tested in vitro against DNA-viruses, retroviruses and flaviviridae viruses, which are important genera of human and animal RNA pathogens. The antitumor activity of such compounds was also measured. Strong activity of artemisinin against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) was observed. It is concluded that plague viruses, such as BVDV, have many similarities to hepatitis C virus (HCV), generally endoperoxides, and more particularly artemisinin, are effective in treating hepatitis C virus infection. It was. |