Objective: Influenza virus, which is Lighting 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.
Materials and Methods: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.Results: PPE inhibited viral polymerase activity, 156 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.Conclusion: 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.