Seaweeds with anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 activity

Many compounds derived from marine organisms have new and unusual structures with significant biological activities, and pharmacological properties, including antiviral activity, of seaweed natural products, have been discovered. The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection is endemic worldwide and is one of the most prevalent infections in Brazil. Although several antiviral substances are available for the treatment of individuals infected with herpes simplex virus type 1, the development of resistant mutations of herpes viruses, the side effects associated with the drugs available, and the occurrence of severe cases of the disease have shown the importance of the search for new effective therapies against herpes. Hence, the aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the information on the extracts and isolated molecules from different seaweeds with anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 activity. Perspectives for choosing classes and orders of algae for future studies with this activity are discussed.