USAGE AND BIOASSAYS IN PHYLLANTHUS (EUPHORBIACEAE) .4. CLUSTERING OF ANTIVIRAL USES AND OTHER EFFECTS

A number of species of the genus Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae) have been tested for their efficacy as antivirals, partly on the basis of refer ences to traditional usage for the treatment of diseases possibly havi ng a viral origin. There are also many references to indigenous uses a nd to laboratory assays for other biological activities in this large genus (550+ species), These citations have been arranged by subgenus, section, subsection and species and have been published in three previ ous papers. This paper summarizes selected clustering of usage and eff ect by subgeneric taxa. Consideration of the data from ethnobotany, in vitro assays and clinical trials supported the presence of some type of biological activity(s) particularly within the subgenus Phyllanthus . Although the herbaceous species of subgenus Phyllanthus have been ex tensively used to treat jaundice, and have generally inhibited hepadna virus DNAp, effects on chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or related viruses have generally been negative. Alternative explanati ons for the wide usage have been little explored. Other medical catego ries suggested possible leads for research, or possibly, herbal or gal enic remedies with bona fide effects. In most cases, the data remain s uggestive but not conclusive.