Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Properties of Meliaceae Family

Meliaceae are medicinal plants widely distributed throughout the world and has been used since ancient time. Popular indications of the several species of this family include treatment of wounds, headache, pains, emmenagogue, asthma, bruises, colic, conjunctivitis, dysmenorrhoea, fever, gout, as antidote against toxins, to remedy chronic intestinal obstructions and purulent sores. Phytochemical investigations of Meliaceae species have revealed that many components are highly bioactive. There are many reports on the mentioned folk and traditional effects. The present paper reviews the antiviral and immunomodulatory properties of various species of Meliaceae, which have been examined on the basis of in vitro or in vivo results. Various effects of these plants could be due to the presence of a broad range of secondary active metabolites such as limonoids, terpenoids (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes) and sterols which have been frequently reported from Meliaceae species.