Use of endoperoxides for the treatment of infections caused by flaviviridae viruses including hepatitis C, bovine viral diarrhea and swine fever virus

摘要

The use of sesquiterpenes and, in particular sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxides, such as artemisinin and analogs thereof, for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infections. Artemisinin, analogs of artemsisnin and some crude Artemisia extracts were tested in vitro against DNA-viruses, retro-viruses and Flavivirida, (an important family of human and animal RNA pathogens). These compounds were also screened for anti-tumor activity. Strong activity of artemisinin was noticed against the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). As pestiviruses, such as BVDV, share many similarities with hepatitis C virus (HCV), we can conclude that endoperoxides in general and artemisinin more specifically have efficacy as treatments for hepatitis C viral infections.