Herpes simplex virus: Drug resistance and new treatment options using natural products (Review).

As herpes simplex infections are very common worldwide, new treatment options are of high importance, especially for immunosuppressed individuals. Although the standard treatment options have shown high effectiveness for decades, the risk that drug resistance will emerge remains significant. It is therefore important that new drug targets and new treatments are investigated, not just in preliminary tests, but also in vitro, in vivo and by clinical testing. One valuable source for new treatments is the abundance of molecules from natural products that have been shown to possess antiviral properties. Several potential candidates for the development of new anti-herpes drugs are discussed in this short review.