Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, the most prevalent viral infection that typically lasts for a lifetime, is associated with frequent outbreaks of oral and genital lesions. Oral herpes infection is mainly associated with HSV-1 through oral contact, while genital herpes originates due to HSV-2 and is categorized under sexually transmitted diseases. Immunocompromised patients and children are more prone to HSV infection. Over the years, various attempts have been made to find potential targets for the prevention of HSV infection. Despite the global distress caused by HSV infections, there are no licensed prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines available on the market against HSV. Nevertheless, there are numerous promising candidates in the pre-clinical and clinical stages of study. The present review gives an overview of two herpes viruses, their history, and life cycle, and different treatments adopted presently against HSV infections and their associated limitations. Majorly, the review covers the recent investigations being carried out globally regarding various vaccine strategies against oral and genital herpes virus infections, together with the recent and advanced nanotechnological approaches for vaccine development. Consequently, it gives an insight to researchers as well as people from the health sector about the challenges and upcoming solutions associated with treatment and vaccine development against HSV infections.

Maytenus emarginata (Willd.) Ding Hou (family Celastraceae), popularly known as “Kankero” in Hindi and “Thorny Staff Tree” in English, is an evergreen tree species of the Indian Thar Desert and neighboring Aravalli’s. Traditionally, various parts of the plant have been used to treat a variety of conditions, including mouth ulcers, jaundice, gastrointestinal disorders, and as blood purifiers. The tribal healers also mentioned other traditional remedies in the treatment of various ailments including fever, nervous disorders, allergy, inflammation, microbial infection, rheumatoid arthritis, stomach disorder. As well as there are numerous reports on the pharmacological activities of this plant that supports some of its traditional uses. These pharmacological activities include antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antihyperglycaemic, hepatoprotective, anthelmintic, antinociceptive, and antiulcer. Maytenus emarginata contains unique alkaloids like emarginatines which are potential anticancer agents. The presence of terpenoid metabolites like β-amyrin, friedelan-3-one, maytenonic acid, pristimerin, tingenone, iguesterin, lupenone, β-amyrenone, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, lupanes and flavonoids like myricetin, quercetin, and isorhamnetin makes this plant of biological importance. This review article presents and critically evaluates, for the first time, existing categorical information regarding Maytenus emarginata (Willd.) Ding Hou, including its claimed pharmacological properties, traditional uses, and active constituents from 1981 to 2024, which was collected from scientific databases including Scopus, Pubmed, Google Scholar, Springer, Science Direct, The Plant Database, Wiley Online Library, GRIN taxonomy, Indian biodiversity. Graphical Abstract