| abstract |
Compositions are provided containing molecules having at least one moiety from β-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) lactic acid and/or caffeic acid, which are found in extracts from the plant genus Salvia, said moieties being of formula (I), the active agents having a molecular weight of at least 190 daltons. A class of preferred agents are those which are conjugated to form dimers, trimers, tetramers and larger polymers containing said moieties, with the most preferred being salvianolic acid dimers, trimers, tetramers and larger polymers. The compounds and compositions may be administered in pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and excipients systematically or locally to treat viral infections. |