New Hope Emerges as Natural Herb Compound Shows Potential Against Influenza H3N2
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 13, 2025 1 hour, 53 minutes ago
Medical News: Scientists Uncover a Promising Herbal Defense Against A Dangerous Flu Strain
A new scientific study from researchers at the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health and The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in China has discovered that a natural plant compound or phytochemical called rhamnocitrin may help fight one of the most stubborn forms of influenza. Rhamnocitrin is a flavonoid found in certain traditional medicinal herbs with the leaves of the herb Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) being a rich source of this phytochemical. This new research suggests it could offer a powerful defense against the H3N2 strain of influenza A, a virus known for mutating rapidly and causing severe illness in both children and older adults. In their detailed laboratory experiments, the research team showed that rhamnocitrin not only reduced viral activity but also protected lung cells from the damage commonly caused by the flu virus, making this
Medical News report particularly timely as flu seasons grow more unpredictable worldwide along with the recent debut of a new H3N2 strain that is more worrisome that previous sublineages.
New Hope Emerges as Natural Herb Compound Shows Potential Against Influenza H3N2
Understanding Why Influenza H3N2 Remains a Major Threat
The H3N2 form of influenza A remains one of the most problematic flu strains because of its ability to change rapidly, evade immunity and cause higher hospitalization rates compared to other flu viruses. The study explains that H3N2 triggers harmful inflammation inside the body, damages the mitochondria in cells and activates a pathway known as cGAS STING. This pathway is normally part of the body’s antiviral defense system, but when overactivated, it can lead to excessive inflammation, cellular destruction and rapid worsening of flu symptoms.
The researchers tested rhamnocitrin in human lung cells and observed that it prevented many of these harmful effects, reduced inflammation, repaired mitochondrial damage and interfered with viral replication.
How Rhamnocitrin Protects Cells from Viral Damage
The study found that rhamnocitrin worked in several important ways.
• It significantly slowed the replication of the H3N2 virus
• It blocked the activation of key cell-death enzymes such as Caspase-9 and Caspase-3
• It reduced the dangerous build-up of reactive oxygen species that damage cell structures
• It helped restore the mitochondrial membrane potential, a key element in keeping cells alive
• It prevented the virus from triggering excessive inflammatory chemicals including IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IFN-β
• It directly interacted with the cGAS and STING proteins, helping calm the overactive immune response
With these protective actions, rhamnocitrin demonstrated a powerful ability to safeguard lung cells that would normally be heavily damaged by th
e H3N2 virus. The compound also performed impressively when compared to oseltamivir, a standard influenza drug, showing nearly similar antiviral benefits in several experiments.
Why This Research Matters and What It Means for Future Flu Treatments
The findings are important because they suggest that natural plant-based compounds could offer new therapeutic pathways for flu infections that no longer respond well to existing antiviral drugs. The study highlights that rhamnocitrin acts not just by fighting the virus directly but by protecting the body from the severe inflammatory response that often causes the worst flu complications. This dual action could be a valuable approach in future drug development. The researchers emphasise that while more studies and clinical trials are needed, rhamnocitrin represents a promising candidate that may eventually help reduce severe flu cases, protect vulnerable individuals and improve outcomes during seasonal outbreaks. Their work reinforces the growing belief that compounds derived from traditional medicinal herbs still have much to offer modern medicine, especially against rapidly evolving pathogens.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Scientific Reports.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-79788-z
For the latest on H3N2 Flu virus, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/influenza-or-flu
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