Abscisic Acid, a Plant Hormone, Could be a Promising Candidate as an Anti-Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) Agent

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is an arthropod-borne flavivirus that belongs to the Flaviviridae family affecting millions of people worldwide. There is no specific drug approved for the treatment of this infection and also available vaccines are not effective against all the clinical isolates. Thus, the exploration of novel mechanistic pathways of existing molecules may help to develop more effective anti-JEV agents. Abscisic acid is a naturally occurring phytohormone released particularly in stress conditions, which controls leaf abscission. Recent studies have shown that the abscisic acid has the potential to inhibit the virus by inhibiting protein disulfide isomerase enzyme, which is important for the formation of viral proteins. Apart from this, abscisic acid could also reduce the neuroinflammation (a major hallmark of JEV infection) through the stimulation of PPAR gamma. Thus, abscisic acid thereof could have the potential to develop as an anti-JEV agent.