Malaysian Researchers identify Plant Extracts That Show Powerful Flu Fighting Potential
Kittisak Meepoon Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 04, 2025 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
Medical News: Natural Plant Compounds Offer New Hope Against Influenza A
A new study by researchers from the School of Science at Monash University Malaysia has revealed that certain plant extracts or phytochemicals show strong antiviral activity against Influenza A virus (IAV), a strain known for causing global flu pandemics. As flu viruses continue to evolve and develop resistance to existing treatments like oseltamivir, this
Medical News report highlights the urgent need for alternative therapies.
New research shows plant extracts like milk thistle and elderberry may outperform standard flu drugs in fighting influenza A
Promising Results from Milk Thistle and Chinese Skullcap
One of the standout natural options is milk thistle (Silybum marianum). Its key compound, silymarin, showed a 98% inhibition of the influenza A/PR/8/34 strain in lab tests—nearly double the effect of the standard antiviral drug oseltamivir at the same dosage. Silybin, another compound from milk thistle, was also found to reduce mortality in infected mice by blocking virus replication and reducing oxidative stress pathways.
Another promising herb is the Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis). Compounds like baicalin and baicalein work by disrupting viral proteins that allow IAV to hijack human cells. These compounds also boost the body’s natural interferon response, an important part of immune defense.
Dahurian Angelica and Syrian Rue Bring New Mechanisms
The study also found that compounds from Angelica dahurica—specifically oxypeucedanin and isoimperatorin—block neuraminidase, an enzyme the virus uses to exit host cells. This significantly reduced virus yield by over 80% in lab experiments. Syrian rue (Peganum harmala), on the other hand, contains harmaline, harmine, and harmalol, which not only inhibit virus replication but also kill the virus directly, offering a dual-action defense.
Elderberries and Green Tea Work on Multiple Fronts
Black elder (Sambucus nigra) was shown to prevent IAV from binding to host cells, while also promoting immune responses such as antibody production. In some studies, elderberry extracts were even more effective than oseltamivir in animal models.
Meanwhile, green tea (Camellia sinensis) compounds like EGCG and ECG showed strong antiviral activity by preventing the virus from entering cells and interfering with the enzyme neuraminidase. These catechins also activated immune cells, helping the body to mount a stronger defense.
A Glimpse into the Future of Flu Treatment
The researchers suggest that plant extracts could form the basis for next-generation flu treatments or be used alongside existing drugs for enhanced protection. Since these natural compounds are generally safe and show multiple mechanisms of action, they offer great promise in dealing with drug-resistant flu strains.
While more clinical trials are needed to confirm their
effectiveness in humans, the laboratory and animal studies provide a compelling case for the use of plant-based antivirals in flu prevention and treatment. Combining extracts from multiple plants could lead to powerful new therapies with fewer side effects and less chance of resistance developing.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed Journal of Applied Microbiology.
https://academic.oup.com/jambio/article/136/3/lxaf056/8064624
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Medical News.
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/influenza-or-flu
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