Pak. J. Pharm.

24(1 & 2)
51-53, 2011

Review Article
ISSN: 1019-956X

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DENGUE WITH NATURAL DRUGS

Shahid Rasool1, Uzma Saleem1, Saeed Mahmood2, M. Yasir Ali1, Ghulam Abbas1 and Bashir Ahmad3
1

College of Pharmacy, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan

2
The Lahore General Hospital, Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Pakistan
3
College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Allama Iqbal Campus, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

ABSTRACT
Dengue is a prevalent mosquito-borne infection in human beings, which has become major international
public health disquiet in recent years. Symptomatically dengue virus infections can present with a spacious
range of clinical signs, from a mild feverish illness to a life-threatening shock syndrome. Many
herbal/natural drugs have been used as antiviral, larvicidal, mosquitocidal and mosquito repellents against
dengue. The objective of this review article is to provide current approaches for the treatment and
management/prevention of dengue.
Keywords: Dengue, Antiviral, Larvicidal, Mosquitocidal and Mosquito repellents
INTRODUCTION
and enhances dengue virus infection by sub neutralizing
Dengue is an acute mosquito-transmitted viral disease
the concentrations of dengue antibody. This antibody(Jose et al., 1998). Now a days dengue is a prevalent
dependent enhancement of infection regulates dengue
mosquito-borne infection in human beings, which has
disease in human beings. Disease can also be controlled
become major public health issue world over.
genetically, possibly by allowing and restricting the
Symptomatically dengue virus infections can present
growth of virus in monocytes (Halstead, 1988). Efforts to
with a wide range of clinical signs, from a mild feverish
control this disease are dependent on understanding the
illness to a life-threatening shock syndrome. Both viral
pathogenicity of dengue viruses and their transmission
and host factors are thought to contribute to the
dynamics. Pathogenicity study is in a weak position by
appearance of disease in infected persons (Jahan, 2011).
the lack of in-vitro or in-vivo models of austere dengue
Dengue viruses occur as four antigenically related but
disease (Rebeca et al., 1997). The status for vaccine
discrete serotypes transmitted to humans by Aedes
development has been described and emphasized that the
aegypti mosquitoes (Halstead, 1988). Southeast Asia,
only alternative available today to control the disease is
western Pacific, and America are the endemic regions
through the control of its vector Aedes aegypti (Maria,
where incidence and case fatality is observed for dengue
2002). The following are the plant sources reported to
and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF). For diagnosis of
have antivirals, larvicidals, mosquitocidals and mosquito
the disease, different methods for viral isolation and the
repellents activities.
serological, immune histo-chemical, and molecular
methods have been reviewed (Maria, 2002). This severe
syndrome recently has also been recognized in children
ANTIVIRALS
infected with the virus in Puerto Rico that is
Kaempferia parviflora
characterized by increased vascular permeability and
Local name of the plant Kaempferia parviflora is
abnormal homeostasis. Replication of dengue viruses
chandramul. Chemical constituent is borneol. It belongs
takes place in cells of mononuclear phagocyte lineage,
*Corresponding authors Address: Uzma Saleem, Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, Govt. College
University, Faisalabad (Pakistan).

51

Saleem et al
to the Zingiberaceae family. Leaves and stem are used as
herbal remedy against virus. Four serotypes for dengue
have been recognized i.e. DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3, and
DEN 4. Recent studies show that DEN 2 particles are
directly inactivated by some bioactive compound in K.
parviflora. The plant extract activity is dose dependent
(Hafidh et al., 2009).

essential oil. The essential oil of this plant is highly toxic

to larvae of Aedes aegypti (Veena et al., 2005).
MOSQUITOCIDALS
Curcuma longa
Curcuma longa is rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial plant
of ginger family, Zingiberaceae. Its rhizome is used as
herbal remedy. It is also used in foods and in cosmetics.
Ethyl acetate extract of Curcuma longa rhizomes gives
three curcuminoids which show activity in inhibiting
topoisomerase I and topoisomerase II, which play
important role in DNA replication. Out of these three
curcuminoides, curcumin III is the most effective.
Turmerone obtained from volatile oil of Curcuma longa
give 100% mosquitocidal activity against Aedes aegypti
(Roth et al., 1998).

Quercus lusitanica
Loacal name of Quercus lusitanica is mazu phal.
Chemical constituents are the gallic acid and ellagic acid.
The whole plant is used as drug. Quercus lusitanica, also
known as Quercus infectoria, is a small tree or a shrub
belonging to the Fagaceae (Quercaceae) family. Test was
performed on methanol crude and fractionated extracts of
Quercus lusitanica. The cytotoxicity of these plant
extracts was evaluated by determining the maximum
non-toxic dose (MNTD) on C6/36 cells. Antiviral
activity was estimated by the reduction of the cytopathic
effect (CPE) of DENV-2 in C6/36 cells and by the
reduction of virus titre. The crude methanol extracts of
Q. lusitanica at the concentration of 180g/ml was found
to completely inhibit the dengue virus infection. The
extract of the plant inhibits the replication of virus
(Noorsaadah et al., 2006).

Murraya koenigii
The hexane, diethyl ether, dichloromethane and ethyl
acetate crude extracts of the whole plant was prepared
and adult mosquitoes were allowed to grow over there.
During the experiment adults were fed normally. As a
result of the experiment there was the inhibition of adult
emergence by losing their consciousness. Hence, adults
cannot bite and dont show any activity because of the
knock-down ability of this plant. Thus, it can be used as
Mosquitocidal (Arivoli and Samuel, 2011).

LARVICIDALS
Piper longum
Local name of Piper longum is pipal, pippli. It belongs to
family Piperaceae. Three species i.e. Piper longum L. P
ribesoides Wall and P. sarmentosum Roxb of this family,
as ethanolic extract have been used in research. Efficacy
of these species is in following order: P. longum > P.
sarmentosum Roxb > P ribesoides Wall. This study
conclude that Pepper plant possess activity against Aedes
aegypti (Chaithong et al., 2006).

MOSQUITO REPELLENTS
Eravatamia coronaria
Eravatamia coronaria belongs to the family
Apocynaceae. Its leaves are used as herbal remedy.
Crude benzene and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of
Eravatamia coronaria are used as repellent for Aedes
aegypti. The results are collected by studying the
repellent activity at three different concentrations 1.0,
2.5, and 5.0 mg/cm. These concentrations were applied
on the skin of forearm of a man and exposed against
female Aedes aegypti. This plant gives protection against
this mosquito without any allergic effect. The mosquito
repellent activity is dose/concentration dependent
(Govindarajan et al., 2009).

Murraya koenigii
Local name of Murraya koenigii is Kari patah or
Kariapat. Family is Rutaceae. It is aromatic deciduous
shrub of small tree. Whole plant is used as herbal
remedy. The hexane, diethyl ether, dichloromethane and
ethyl acetate crude extracts of the whole plant was
prepared and pupa and adult mosquitoes were allowed to
grow over there. During the experiment larvae and adults
were fed normally. As a result of the experiment, larval
and pupal deformations were observed and there was
also inhibition of adult emergence. Hence, it causes
abnormalities in adult formation. Therefore, it can be
used as larvicidal (Arivoli and Samuel 2011).

Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Caesalpinia pulcherrima belongs to the family Fabaceae.
Part used is leaf. Crude benzene and ethyl acetate
extracts of the leaves of Caesalpinia pulcherrima are
used as repellent for Aedes aegypti. The results are
collected by studying the repellent activity at three
different concentrations 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/cm. These
concentrations were applied on the skin of forearm of a
man and exposed against female Aedes aegypti. This
plant gives protection against this mosquito without any
allergic effect (Govindarajan et al., 2009).

Pimpinella anisum
Local name of Pimpinella anisum is Anisuan. It belongs
to the family Apiaceae. Whole plant is used to extract

52

Pak. J. Pharm. 24(1 & 2)

51-53, 2011

ISSN: 1019-956X

Andropogon citratum
Andropogon citratum belongs to the family Poaceae. Its
common name is citronella grass. Active constituents of
this plant are essential oil and citronella oil. This oil is
put in candles and lanterns that can be burned to repel
mosquitoes. Its mosquito repellent qualities have been
verified by research, including effectiveness in repelling
Aedes aegypti (Onanong et al., 2009).
The nanoemulsions of this plant oil were made and was
investigated both in-vivo and in-vitro. High pressure
homogenization to convert larger emulsion droplets
(195-220 nm) to smaller size droplets (150-160 nm)
results in higher release rate. Thin films are obtained
from nanoemulsions which have droplets of small size.
Such films have more integrity, hence, they increase the
vaporization of essential oils subsequently prolong the
activity of mosquito repellent (Ibrahim et al., 1998).
Syzygium aromaticum

Govindarajan, M., Mathivanan, T., Elumalai,K.,

Krishnappa, K. and Anandan. A. (2009). Mosquito
larvicidal, ovicidal, and repellent properties of
botanical extracts against Anopheles stephensi, Aedes
aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus. Parasitology
Research. 109 (2), 353-67.
Hafidh, R.R., Abdulamir, A.S., Jahanshiri, F., Abas, F.,
Abu Bakar, Sekawi, Z. (2009). Asia is the Mine of
Natural Antiviral Products for Public Health. The Open
Complementary Medicine Journal.1, 58-68.
Halstead, S.B. (1988) Pathogenesis of dengue: J.
Challenges to Molecular Biology 239, 476-481.
Ibrahim, J. and Zaridah, Z. (1998). Development of
environment-friendly insect Repellents from the Leaf
oils of selected Malaysian plants. ASEAN Review of
Biodiversity
and
Environmental
Conservation
(ARBEC). Article VI, Page 1.
Jahan, F. (2011) Dengue Fever (DF) in Pakistan. Asia
Pacific Family Medicine. 10, 1.
Jos, G., Rigau, G., Duane, J., Gubler, S.D., Paul, R.D.,
Eduard, J., Sanders, M.D. (1998). Dengue and dengue
haemorrhagic fever. The Lancet. 352(9132), 971-977.
Maria, G. and Gustavo, K. (2002). Dangue: An update.
The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 02(1), 33-42.
Noorsaadah, R., Hadinur, Sylvia Muliawan, Nurshamimi
or Rashid, Mudiana Muhamad and Rohana, Y. (2006).
Studies on Quercus lusitanica Extracts on DENV-2
Replication. Dengue Bulletin. 30(1). 260-269.
Onanong, N., Usawadee, S., Napaporn, U., Satit, P.,
Apinan S. and Uracha, R. (2009). In vitro
characterization and mosquito (Aedes aegypti)
repellent
activity
of
essential-oils-loaded
nanoemulsions. AAPS Pharmaceutical Science and
Technology. 10(4), 1234-1242.
Rebeca, R.H., Lisa, M.H., Rosa A.S., Duilia, T., Ananda,
N., Celso, R., Jorge, B., Maria, T.R., Rita, M.R.
(1997). Origins of Dengue Type 2 Viruses Associated
with increased Pathogenicity in the Americas.
Virology. 230 (2), 244-251.
Roth, G.N., Chandra, A. and Nair, M.G. (1998) Novel
bioactivities of Curcuma longa constituents. Journal of
Natural Products. 61(4), 542-545.
Veena, P., Tripathi, A.K., Aggarwal, K.K. and Khanuja,
S.P.S. (2005). Insecticidal, repellent and ovipositiondeterrent activity of selected essential oils against
Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex
quinquefasciatus. Bioresource Technology, 96(16),
1749-1757.

The family of Syzygium aromaticum is Myrtaceae. Its

Urdu name is Laung. Essential oil of this plant is used as
insect repellents. Experiments show that undiluted clove
oil can repel many species of mosquitoes for up to two
hours. However, this concentrated clove oil may cause
skin rash in sensitive people. Recommended dilution is
less than 24% (Dan et al., 2004).
CONCLUSION
Natural drugs possess activity against Aedes aegypti by
their antiviral mechanism, larvicidal and mosquitocidal
action and mosquito repellents property. Work on
structural activity relationship of active compounds
found in the reported plants may help to develop new
medicines for the prevention and treatment of dengue.
REFERENCES
Arivoli and Tennyson, S. (2011). Studies on the
mosquitocidal activity of murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng
(Rutaceae) leaf extracts against Aedes Aegypti
Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus S.
Asian journal of Experimental Bioogical Sciences.
2(4), 721-730.
Chaithong, U., Choochote, W., Kamsuk, K., Jitpakdi, A.,
Tippawangkosol, P., Chaiyasit, D., Champakaew, D.,
Tuetun, B. and Pitasawat, B. (2006). Larvicidal effect
of pepper plants on Aedes aegypti. Journal of Vector
Ecology. 31(1), 138-144.
Dan, B., Steven, C., Erich, S. and Andrew G. (2004).
Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (3rd ed.),
Eastland Press, pp. 1311.

53