Chinese Herbal Medicines 13 (2021) 494–501

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Chinese Herbal Medicines

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Review

Antiviral medicinal plants found in Lanna traditional medicine

Jakaphun Julsrigival a,b,c,⇑, Panee Sirisa-ard c, Sarinya Julsrigival d, Nararat Akarchariya c
a
Cluster of Excellence on Biodiversity Based Economics and Society (B.BES-CMU), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
b
Innovation Center for Holistic Health, Nutraceuticals and Cosmeceuticals, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
c
Medicinal Plant Innovation Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
d
Drug Section, Regional Medical Sciences Center 1 Chiang Mai, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Chiang Mai 50180, Thailand

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Traditional medicine uses a multitude of plants to create medicinal formulations, some of which show
Received 6 August 2021 antiviral properties that may be of benefit in treating emerging viral diseases, including Covid-19.
Revised 5 September 2021 Lanna, an ancient Kingdom in Northern Thailand, with a thriving culture that continues to this day
Accepted 8 September 2021
and has a rich history of traditional medicine using local plants that is still practiced today. To find poten-
Available online 20 September 2021
tial antiviral medicinal candidates, we examined ancient manuscripts, interviewed traditional healers
practicing today, and inventoried current traditional medicines to catalogue 1400 medicinal formulations
Keywords:
used in Lanna traditional medicine. We then narrowed this list to find those traditionally used to treat
antiviral activity
Lanna wisdom
diseases that in their original use and descriptions most likely map to those we know today to be viral
traditional medicine diseases. We identified the plants used in these formulations to create a list of 64 potential antiviral her-
bal candidates drawn from this ancient Lanna wisdom and matched these to the scientific literature to
see which of these plants had already been shown to possess antiviral properties, generating a list of
64 potential antiviral medicinal candidates from Lanna traditional medicine worth further investigation
for treating emerging viral diseases.
Ó 2021 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. This is an open access
article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Contents

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494
2. Antiviral medicinal plants in Lanna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 496
3. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
Declaration of Competing Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500

1. Introduction still being practiced throughout Thailand, including in the private

sector and through local healers and monks. The knowledge and
Thai traditional medicines and pharmacopoeia are documented skills of traditional healers was not usually recorded or written
in traditional reference works and textbooks. Ethnomedicine or but transferred from generation to generation, father to son and
indigenous medicine continues to play an important role and is teacher to students. The healers and herbalists were usual the
same people. The medicaments were usually compound medicines,
characterized as having hot, cold, or equally hot and cold proper-
⇑ Corresponding author at:Medicinal Plant Innovation Center, Faculty of Phar- ties. The taste sensations of each herb are similar to the activities
macy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. associated with the medicinal formulation. Hot property medicines
E-mail address: [email protected] (J. Julsrigival).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chmed.2021.09.006
1674-6384/Ó 2021 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines. Published by ELSEVIER B.V.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
J. Julsrigival, P. Sirisa-ard, S. Julsrigival et al. Chinese Herbal Medicines 13 (2021) 494–501

and can relieve fever-related insomnia and flatulence. Cold prop-

erty medicines, such as Ficus racemosa L, can reduce the heat in
the body and relieve fever and flu. Some herbs, such as Leucaena
leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, contain equal parts of hot and cold
properties; Medicines derived from these are used to stabilize
and normalize the body temperature. The Royal Thai Government’s
Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry
of Public Health restores and conserves traditional Thai medicine
and knowledge, conducts pharmaceutical research of the tradi-
tional herbs, and promotes their use.
Lanna was an ancient kingdom in Northern Thailand, covering
eight provinces–Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Lam-
phun, Lampang, and Mae Hong Son (Fig. 1). Chiang Mai was the
center of the Lanna Kingdom. While the kingdom is gone, much
of its culture remains in the people of the region. They retained a
close relationship to nature and many of their traditional beliefs,
which together provided continued support for traditional healers
and the application of medicinal plants as used for centuries in
treating those in the Lanna community.
Traditionally, two types of medicines, YaKae and YaTheep, are
combined to treat these diseases. YaKae medicines help cure the
patient while YaTheep medicines drive off the toxin or lessen the
course of illness. If patients are treated with only YaTheep or YaKae
medicine, it will take longer to recover, and the disease will recur
sooner. The most common YaKae and YaTheep medicines that we
found were referenced as Ya Kae Ha Ton and Ya Sri Munluang
(Table 1).
In the Lanna context, antiviral medicines typically use names
associated with the wind and hot elements. The wind element is
involved with the respiratory system. Several symptoms were
mentioned, including Khikoo (asthma) and Khaang khare (severe
asthma). The hot element is involved with fever, such as fever with
toxic substances, which refers to fever accompanied by inflamma-
tion. Fever with cough means the prolonged fever effect to the
Fig. 1. A map of Thailand showing Lanna Kingdom shaded. lung. Other fevers are E-suk-e-sai (chicken pox), Ngu-sawad (her-
pes zoster), Phee kuer (skin rash scattered with pustules) and Hadd
(measles rash). The traditional preparations were first documented
are derived from herbs that produce heat in the body, such as fresh on palm leaves (Fig. 2) and mulberry bark (Fig. 3).
ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Ginger has a sweet-hot property This paper aimed to gather the formulations of antiviral
and releases the air element. Consuming ginger warms the body medicaments used in traditional healing from a variety of sources
in the Lanna region of Northern Thailand: palm leaf manuscripts,
mulberry bark manuscripts, translations, researches, documents
written by healers, interviews with folk healers, and an inventory
Table 1
Medicinal plants of YaKae and YaTheep formula. of herbal plants and medicines in the region. In this study, we

Formula Scientific names Pharmaceutical parts

YaKae Nyctocalos brunfelsiiflora Roots
Ya Kae Teijsm. & Binn.
Ha Ton Melothria affinis King Roots or stems or leaves or
aerial parts of a plant
Inula cappa (Buch.-Ham. ex Stems or roots
D.Don) DC.
Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. Stems
f. & Thomson
Tacca chantrieri André Roots
Yatheep Momordica charantia L. Fruits
Ya Sri Cyperus rotundus L. Rhizome
Munluang Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. Stems
f. & Thomson
Vitex trifolia L. Fruits
Piper nigrum L. Fruits
Micromelum minutum Stems
Wight & Arn.
Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. Aerial parts of a plant
Strychnos viridiflora A.W. Whole plants (except fruits)
Hill.
Inula cappa (Buch.-Ham. ex Roots or leaves
D.Don) DC.
Afzelia xylocarpa (Kurz) Stems or roots
Fig. 2. A palm leaf manuscript (The document kept in Herbal Museum, Medicinal
Craib.
Plant Innovation Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University).

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intensively searched the Thai traditional medicine references for

traditional herbs and medicaments that might offer promise for
treating viral diseases or their symptoms. From these preliminary
studies, we found that traditional medicinal plants can treat viral
diseases and may be of benefit in treating emerging infectious dis-
eases, including Covid-19.

2. Antiviral medicinal plants in Lanna

We analyzed palm leaf and mulberry bark manuscripts from the

eight-province Lanna region of Northern Thailand to find tradi-
tional medicinal formulas that might offer antiviral properties.
We found and analyzed 1400 formulas, mapping their traditional
uses to infections that are known today to be viral, such as influen-
za, several symptoms of toxic fever with or without cough, fever
with asthma, chicken pox, herpes zoster, skin rashes with
abscesses or pustules, and measles.
Fig. 3. A mulberry bark manuscript (The document kept in Herbal Museum, About 1400 formulas were selected and their constituent herbs
Medicinal Plant Innovation Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University). were cross-referenced with current antiviral research to identify

Table 2
Antiviral medicinal plants found in Lanna traditional medicine.

Family names Thai Scientific names Pharmacological effects References

names
Acanthaceae Pha Ya Yo Clinacanthus nutans Anti-Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 Haetrakul et al., 2017; Sakdarat et al.,
(Burm.f.) Lindau (LC50 of ethanolic extract was > 5 mg/mL, ED50 were 0.99, 0.78, 0.75 2009; Yoosook et al., 1999; Tu et al.,
and 0.71 mg/mL at 1, 2, 3 and 4 h pre-infection) 2014
Anti-HSV type 1 activity
(Subtoxic concentration of compounds 1, 2 and 3, IC50 were 1.96, 3.11
and 3.11 nmol/L)
Anti HSV type 2 activity
(Methanolic extract showed a low insignificant effect)
Anti-Dengue virus (DENV-2, strain 16681)
(Ethanolic extract showed moderate activity, IC50 was 31.04 mg /mL)
Acanthaceae Sang Ko Lepidagathis
Ra Ni fasciculata (Retz.)
Dong Nees
Acoraceae Wan Nam Acorus calamus L. Anti-Dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) NGC strain Rosmalena et al., 2019; Silprasit et al.,
(Inhibition of methanolic extract was to 96.5%) 2011
Anti-HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activities
(IC50 of hexane extract was 32.96 mg/mL)
Amaranthaceae Ngon Kai Celosia argentea L.
Amaranthaceae Thai Celosia cristata Antiviral deoxyribonuclease and ribonuclease activity Begam et al., 2006
(synonym) (CCP-27 showed DNase and RNase activity)
Anacardiaceae Ma Kok Spondias pinnata (L.
f.) Kurz
Apiaceae Bua Bok Centella asiatica (L.) Anti-Herpes simplex type-1 (HSV-1) and vesicular stomatitis (VSV) Ali et al., 1996; Yoosook et al., 2000
Urb. viruses
(MIC of ethanolic extract against VSV was 0.1 mg/mL)
Anti-Herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-l; KOS strain) and
2 (HSV-2; Baylor 186 strain)
(ED50 were 362.40 and 298.84 mg/mL)
Apocynaceae Sat Ta Ban Alstonia scholaris Anti-Dengue type 2 (DENV2) and respiratory syncytial virus type A Nguyen et al., 2015; Antony et al.,
(L.) R. Br. (RSV A) 2014
(The early phase of infections was inhibited by alstotides)
Anti-Coxsackie B2, Polio virus, Herpes Simplex virus, and Hepatitis B
virus
(Water and alcohol extracts showed antiviral activity)
Apocynaceae Klet Nak Dischidia imbricata
Ka Rat (Blume) Steud.
Apocynaceae Cha Em Myriopteron
extensum (Wight &
Arn.) K. Schum.
Apocynaceae Khruea Parameria laevigata
Khao (Juss.) Moldenke
Apocynaceae Muak Parameria barbata
Khao (Blume) K.Schum.
(synonym)
Apocynaceae Kha Yom Rauvolfia verticillata
Yai (Lour.) Baill.
Araceae Phak Nam Lasia spinosa (L.)

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Table 2 (continued)

Family names Thai Scientific names Pharmacological effects References

names
Thwaites
Arecaceae Mak Areca catechu L. Anti-Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) integrase activity Bunluepuech & Tewtrakul, 2011
(IC50 of ethanolic and water extracts were 3.2 and 15.7 mg/mL)
Asparagaceae Chan Dracaena
Daeng cochinchinensis
(Lour.) S.C.Chen
Asparagaceae Dracaena loureiroi
Gagnep. (synonym)
Bignoniaceae Pip Millingtonia Anti-Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) integrase activity Suedee et al., 2014; Akanitapichat
hortensis L.f. (IC50 of ethanolic extract was 77.7 mg/mL) et al., 2005
Anti-Herpes simplex virus type 1
(IC50 of methanolic extract was 285 mg/mL)
Burseraceae Ma Kok Canarium subulatum Anti-Herpes simplex type-1 (HSV-1) Sritularak et al., 2013
Kluean Guillaumin (IC50 of b-amyrin and cubebin were 234 and 280 mmol/L)
Burseraceae Ta Khram Garuga pinnata
Roxb.
Celastraceae Ma Duk Siphonodon
celastrineus Griff.
Commelinaceae Kam Pu Tradescantia zebrina
Lut var. zebrina
Commelinaceae Zebrina pendula
Schnizl. (synonym)
Compositae Kot Chu Artemisia vulgaris Anti-Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) Karamoddinia, Emami, Ghannad, Sani,
La Lam Mattf. (Protection rates was 63.94%) & Sahebkar, 2011
Pha
Compositae Nat Yai Blumea balsamifera Anti- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) integrase activity Bunluepuech & Tewtrakul, 2011; Vista
(L.) DC. (IC50 of ethanolic and water extracts were > 100 and 7.8 mg/mL) et al., 2020; Hartanti et al., 2020
Anti-Zika virus (ZIKV)
(EC50 of aqueous extract was 1.6972 mg/mL)
Immunomodulatory product registered as traditional medicines in
Indonesia.
Convolvulaceae Bai Ra Bat Argyreia nervosa Anti-HIV activity Sareedenchai et al., 2014;
(Burm. f.) Bojer (Ethanolic extract showed anti-HIV activity of syncytium Woradulayapinij et al., 2005
reduction assay > 80% and EC50 was 11.87 lg/mL)
Anti-HIV type 1 reverse transcriptase
(Inhibition ratio of water extract was 84%)
Costaceae Ueang Cheilocostus
Mai Na speciosus (J.Koenig)
C.D.Specht
Orchidaceae Habenaria linguella
Lindl.
Cucurbitaceae Fak Benincasa hispida
(Thunb.) Cogn.
Cucurbitaceae Phak Tam Coccinia grandis (L.)
Lueng Voigt
Cyperaceae Ya Haeo Cyperus rotundus L. Anti-Hepatitis A, Herpes simplex type 1, and Coxsackie viruses Samra et al., 2020; Parvez et al., 2019;
Mu (Antiviral activities of oil were 7.98, 14.21 and 8.79%) Soltan & Zaki, 2009
Anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV)
(IC50 of ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions were 46.2,
94.8, and 107.8 lg/mL)
Anti-Herpes simplex-1 virus (HSV), poliomyelitis-1 virus (POLIO) and
vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)
(Hydro-alcoholic extract showed virucidal effect against HSV)
Euphorbiaceae Di Mi Claoxylon
parviflorum A.Juss.
Euphorbiaceae Acalypha spiciflora
Burm.f. (synonym)
Euphorbiaceae Phang Khi Croton crassifolius
Geiseler
Euphorbiaceae Som Chao Euphorbia tortilis
Yai Rottler ex Ainslie
Euphorbiaceae Kham Mallotus philippensis Anti Sindbis (SINV), human polio virus 1 (POLIO), and Herpes simplex Taylor et al., 1996
Saet (Lam.) Müll.Arg. virus 1 (HSV)
(MIC of methanolic extracts were 200, 50, and 25 lg /mL)
Fabaceae Nam Khi Acacia pennata (L.)
Raet Willd.
Fabaceae Kra Dai Bauhinia scandens L.
Ling
Fabaceae Fang Caesalpinia sappan Anti-Influenza viral activity (Influenza viruses A/PR/8/34 (H1N1), B/ Liu et al., 2009; Arjin et al., 2021
L. Jiangsu/10/2003, and Influenza virus A/Guangdong/243/72 (H3N2)
(IC50 of 3-deoxysappanchalcone and sappanchalcone against
influenza virus (H3N2) were 1.06 and 2.06 lg/mL)
Anti-Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)
(Anti-PRRSV agents were coumarin, byakangelicin, and flavonoids)

(continued on next page)

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Table 2 (continued)

Family names Thai Scientific names Pharmacological effects References

names
Fabaceae Thua Rae Cajanus cajan (L.) Anti-Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) Zu et al., 2010; Nwodo et al., 2011
Millsp. (IC50 of ethanol extract against HSV-1 and HSV-2 were 0.022 and
0.1 lg/mL)
Anti-Measles virus (MV)
(Hot-water and ethanol extracts showed anti-MV properties)
Fabaceae Thua Phra Canavalia ensiformis
(L.) DC.
Fabaceae Cha Em Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Anti-Newcastle disease virus Omer et al., 2014; Sand et al., 2021;
Thet (60 mg/100 mL of water extract inhibited replication of Newcastle Fukuchi et al., 2016; Badam, 1997;
disease virus) Baltina et al., 2015
Anti-Severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
(Glycyrrhizin inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication at 0.5 and 1 mg/mL)
Anti-Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Herpes simplex virus
(HSV)
(EC50 of alkaline (pH12.0) extract against HIV-infected cells was
54.1 lg/mL and EC50 of isoliquiritin against HSV-infected were 0.84
and 0.14 lg/mL)
Anti-Japanese encephalitis virus strains (JEV), West Nile virus strains,
Sindbis, Adenoviruses, and Coxsackie viruses
(The ammonium salt of GA inhibited plaque formation of JEV at 1000
ug/mL)
Anti-influenza A/H1N1/pdm09 virus
(Selectivity index of glycyrrhizic acid conjugates with aromatic amino
acids methyl esters (phenylalanine and tyrosine) and s-benzyl-
cysteine were 61, 38, and 71)
Fabaceae Thua Paep Lablab purpureus
(L.) Sweet
Fabaceae Dolichos lablab L. Anti-Severe acute respiratory syndromecoronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), in Purwanti et al., 2021
(synonym) silico
(19-Nortestosterone, mesterolone, oleanolic acid, rutin, and ursolic
acid showed a low binding energy in MPro, HR1, and NF-jB)
Fabaceae Thua Phu Psophocarpus
tetragonolobus (L.)
DC.
Lecythidaceae Kra Don Careya arborea
Roxb.
Lecythidaceae Careya sphaerica Anti-Herpes simplex virus type 1 Akanitapichat et al., 2005
Roxb. (synonym) (IC50 of dichloromethane–methanol and methanolic extracts were 24,
and 30 mg/mL)
Marsileaceae Phak Marsilea crenata C.
Waen Presl
Menispermaceae Thao Ya Tiliacora triandra
Nang Diels
Moraceae Sa Lae Broussonetia kurzii
(Hook.f.) Corner
Moraceae Ma Duea Ficus hispida L.f.
Plong
Orchidaceae Phaen Din Nervilia concolor
Yen (Blume) Schltr.
Orchidaceae Nervilia aragoana
Gaudich. (synonym)
Pandanaceae Lam Chiak Pandanus utilis Bory
Pandanaceae Pandanus
odoratissimus Jacq.
(synonym)
Passifloraceae Phak Sap Adenia viridiflora
Craib
Phyllanthaceae Kang Pla Flueggea leucopyrus
Daeng Willd.
Phyllanthaceae Securinega
leucopyrus (Willd.)
Müll.Arg.
Phyllanthaceae Kang Pla Phyllanthus
Khruea reticulatus Poir.
Phyllanthaceae Phak Wan Sauropus
Ban androgynus (L.)
Merr.
Piperaceae Di Pli Piper retrofractum Anti-Mosquito-borne dengue virus (DENV) Klawikkan et al., 2011
Vahl (Virucidal activity of ethanol extract against DENV2 was 84.93%)
Piperaceae Piper chaba Hunter
(synonym)
Primulaceae Cham Ardisia attenuata
Wall. ex A.DC.

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Table 2 (continued)

Family names Thai Scientific names Pharmacological effects References

names
Primulaceae Kam Lang Ardisia villosa Roxb.
Primulaceae Chang Ardisia vestita Wall.
Phueak (synonym)
Proteaceae Mueat Helicia nilagirica
Khon Tua Bedd.
Phu
Rhamnaceae Rang Ventilago denticulata Anti-Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), Poliovirus type 1, and Lipipun et al., 2003
Daeng Willd. Measles virus
(EC50 of ethanol extract against HSV-1 was 46.3 mg/mL)
Rubiaceae Kra Bian Ceriscoides turgida
(Roxb.) Tirveng.
Rubiaceae Gardenia turgida
Roxb.
Rubiaceae Chan Tha Tarenna hoaensis Pit.
Na
Rutaceae Kaeo Murraya paniculata Anti-A/duck/ Egypt/ Q5569D/2012(H5N1) virus Baker, Ibrahim, Kandeil, & Baz, 2017
(L.) Jack (IC50 of extract was 0.15 mg/mL)
Salvadoraceae Nam Azima sarmentosa
Phung Do (Blume) Benth. &
Hook.f.
Solanaceae Dap Yang Solanum erianthum Anti-Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Chou et al., 2012
D. Don (IC50 of solamargine was 1.57 mmol/L)
Solanaceae Tong Tang Solanum spirale
Roxb.
Stemonaceae Non Tai Stemona tuberosa Anti-Herpes simplex viruses HSV type 1 and type 2 Chaliewchalad et al., 2013
Yak Lour. (TI value of ethanolic extract against HSV-1 was 41.30 and TI value of
aqueous extract against HSV-2 was 3.64)
Vitaceae Khueang Leea rubra Blume ex
Spreng.
Zingiberaceae Kra Wan Elettaria
Thet cardamomum (L.)
Maton
Zingiberaceae Khing Zingiber officinale Activity and expression of Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2, MMP- Sharma et al., 2015; Chang et al., 2013;
Roscoe 9), and Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1, TIMP-2) Hayati et al., 2021; Kaushik et al., 2020
(Aqueous extract inhibited the activities and expression of MMP-2
and MMP-9)
Anti-Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV)
(Fresh ginger inhibited HRSV-induced plaque formation in HEp-2 and
A549)
Anti-Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV)
(IC50 of [6]-gingerol showed post and full treatment with
0.038 mmol/L and 0.031 mmol/L)
Anti-Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV)
(At maximum non-toxic dose and half maximum non-toxic dose,
Vero cells viability increased 51.05% and 35.1%)

those for which findings have reported antiviral activity. Sixty-four C. nutans, Pha Ya Yo, belongs to the family Acanthaceae. In Thai-
medicinal plants in Thai names with a scientific name were land, this plant has been used to treat skin ailments. Leaves of C.
selected and reviewed for their antiviral properties. Synonym natans are extracted with ethanol and used to prepare topical for-
names were included for analysis. The medicinal plants we found mulations to treat Herpes simplex virus and Varicella-zoster virus.
belonged to the following families (number per family): Acan- The plant has been tested for several anti-viral properties, includ-
thaceae (2), Acoraceae (1), Amaranthaceae (2), Anacardiaceae (1), ing anti-Cyprinid herpesvirus 3, anti-HSV type 1 activity, anti-HSV
Apiaceae (1), Apocynaceae (6), Araceae (1), Arecaceae (1), Aspara- type 2 activity, and anti-Dengue virus (Haetrakul et al., 2017;
gaceae (2), Bignoniaceae (1), Burseraceae (2), Celastraceae (1), Sakdarat et al., 2009; Yoosook et al., 1999; Tu et al., 2014). Chloro-
Commelinaceae (2), Compositae (2), Convolvulaceae (1), Costaceae phyll derivatives (phaeophytins) were extracted from leaves of C.
(1), Cucurbitaceae (2), Cyperaceae (1), Euphorbiaceae (5), Fabaceae natans and showed anti-Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) activ-
(9), Lecythidaceae (2), Marsileaceae (1), Menispermaceae (1), Mor- ities at subtoxic concentrations. These compounds could prevent
aceae (2), Orchidaceae (3), Pandanaceae (2), Passifloraceae (1), the entry of the virus into cells (Sakdarat et al., 2009).
Phyllanthaceae (4), Piperaceae (2), Primulaceae (3), Proteaceae B. balsamifera, Compositae, Nat Yai, has been used widely in
(1), Rhamnaceae (1), Rubiaceae (3), Rutaceae (1), Salvadoraceae Thai traditional medicine, including as a carminative, for relieving
(1), Solanaceae (2), Stemonaceae (1), Vitaceae (1), and Zingiber- sinusitis pain, and preparing bath water for mothers after giving
aceae (2). birth. The main compounds have been identified, and include
Previous studies have shown that 24 Lanna medicinal plants essential oil, steroids, flavonoids, and coumarin (Ruangrungsi
had antiviral activities (Table 2). Medicinal plants that have poten- et al., 1985). Many anti-viral properties have been tested, including
tial antiviral activities include Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.f.) Lindau, anti-HIV-1 integrase activity and anti-Zika virus (ZIKV). Antibacte-
Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC., Caesalpinia sappan L., and Glycyrrhiza rial and antifungal activities against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus
glabra L.

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aureus, Candida albicans, and Enterobacter cloacae have been Badam, L. (1997). Ammonium salt of glycyrrhizic acid as an antiviral. The National
Medical Journal of India, 10(2), 98.
reported (Sakee et al., 2011).
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Declaration of Competing Interest 175–180.
Liu, A. L., Shu, S. H., Qin, H. L., Lee, S., Wang, Y. T., & Du, G. H. (2009). In vitro anti-
influenza viral activities of constituents from Caesalpinia sappan. Planta Medica,
The authors declare that they have no known competing finan- 75(04), 337–339.
cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared Nguyen, P. Q. T., Ooi, J. S. G., Nguyen, N. T. K., Wang, S., Huang, M., Liu, D. X., & Tam, J.
to influence the work reported in this paper. P. (2015). Antiviral cystine knot a-amylase inhibitors from Alstonia scholaris.
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290(52), 31138–31150.
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Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University. Figures were extract and ribavirin against the Newcastle disease virus. Pharmacognosy
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of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University.
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