Oxidative Stress as a Target for Medication of Influenza Virus Infection

During influenza pandemics in the last few years many people have died from severe complications associated with this pandemic despite receiving intensive care. This suggests that a definitive medical treatment for severe influenza-associated complications has not yet been established. About the pathogenicity of flu, many studies have shown that superoxide anion produced by macrophages infiltrated into the virus-infected organs is implicated in the development of severe influenza-associated complications. Selected antioxidants, such as alpha-tocopherol, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, glutathione, ascorbic acid, 5,7,4-trihydroxy- 8-methoxyflavone, catechins, quercetin 3-rhamnoside, iso-quercetin etc. inhibit the proliferation of influenza virus and scavenge superoxide anions. The combination of antioxidants with antiviral drugs synergistically reduces the lethal effects of influenza virus infections. These results suggest that the combination of an agent with antiviral activities and an antioxidant could be a drug of choice for the treatment of patients with severe influenza-associated complications. Hopefully, this update of knowledge of antioxidant therapy of flu could be used as a potential approach to overcome the influenza-associated complications.