Pomegranate peel extract inhibits internalization and replication of the influenza virus: An in vitro study

• Main Authors: Mohammad-Taghi Moradi, Ali Karimi, Mahmoud Rafieian-kopaei, Mohammad Rabiei-Faradonbeh, Hassan Momtaz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences 2020-03-01
• Series: Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
• Subjects: anti-influenza virus; pomegranate; punica granatum l; mechanisms
• Online Access: http://ajp.mums.ac.ir/article_13855_24ca5f382bc925bbb50d99333834ece6.pdf

<strong>Objective:</strong> Influenza virus, which is associated with high level of morbidity and mortality, has been recently considered a public health concern; however, the methods of choice to control and treat it are limited. Our previous study showed anti-influenza virus activity of pomegranate peel extract (PPE). In this study, the mechanism through which PPE acts against influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1; PR8) was investigated.<br /> <strong>Materials and Methods:</strong>Ethyl alcohol extract of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel was prepared, and the action mechanism of PPE in inhibiting influenza replication was studied by time-of-drug-addition assay, virucidal activity, RNA replication, hemagglutination inhibition assay, viral mRNA expression, and western blot analysis.<br /> <strong>Results:</strong> PPE inhibited viral polymerase activity, viral RNA replication, and viral protein expression but could not affect hemagglutination inhibition and virucidal activity. According to time-of-drug-addition assay results, PPE inhibited the virus adsorption and early steps of influenza replication.<br /> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study demonstrated that the antiviral effect of PPE on influenza virus is most probably associated with inhibition of viral adsorption and viral RNA transcription.