Antiviral Sesqui-, Di- and Sesterterpenes

Terpenoids, biosynthetically related ubiquitous compounds found in virtually all living organisms from marine invertebrates to blooming plants, are derived from the same precursor but their structures and biological and/or pharmacological activities are widely different. Our review concerns terpenoid compounds with antiviral activities, from the simplest sesquiterpenes to diterpenes and sesterterpenes. They include commercially produced therapeutics, compounds with documented antiviral effects and potential future medical use, as well as substances in different stages of clinical research and testing. All of them are based on natural compounds, with only partial man-made changes in the basic structure or mere substituent modifications.