<em>Artemisia annua</em> L. leaf extracts suppress influenza virus infection by targeting the viral nucleoprotein and blocking mitochondria-mediated apoptosis

Xiwen Zhao; Xuan Dai; Fuyi Wang; Chenyang Li; Xun Song; Yingying Han; Chaowei Zhang; Lu Wang; Zhendan He; Rongping Zhang; Liang Ye

doi:10.1016/j.virs.2025.03.001

April 2025

Citation: Xiwen Zhao, Xuan Dai, Fuyi Wang, Chenyang Li, Xun Song, Yingying Han, Chaowei Zhang, Lu Wang, Zhendan He, Rongping Zhang, Liang Ye. Artemisia annua L. leaf extracts suppress influenza virus infection by targeting the viral nucleoprotein and blocking mitochondria-mediated apoptosis .VIROLOGICA SINICA, 2025, 40(2) : 247-259. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virs.2025.03.001

Artemisia annua L. leaf extracts suppress influenza virus infection by targeting the viral nucleoprotein and blocking mitochondria-mediated apoptosis

Xiwen Zhao ^a,b ,
Xuan Dai ^b ,
Fuyi Wang ^b,c ,
Chenyang Li ^c ,
Xun Song ^d ,
Yingying Han ^c ,
Chaowei Zhang ^c ,
Lu Wang ^{e
,,} ,
Zhendan He ^{d
,,} ,
Rongping Zhang ^{a
,,} ,
Liang Ye ^{b
,,}

a. College of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicine Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China;
b. Department of Immunology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China;
c. College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China;
d. College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China;
e. Hyperbaric Oxygen Department, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen 518055, China

Corresponding author: Lu Wang, luwangszu@163.com
Zhendan He, hezhendan@126.com
Rongping Zhang, zhrpkm@163.com
Liang Ye, liangyeszu@163.com
Received Date: 27 September 2024
Accepted Date: 26 February 2025
Available online: 03 March 2025

Abstract

Artemisia annua L. is a medicinal herb with multiple therapeutic applications, whereas its anti-influenza A virus (IAV) efficiency and mechanism of action are still unclear. Here, we investigated the inhibition activity and mechanism of A. annua leaf methanol extracts (AALME) against IAV in vitro and in vivo. Our results revealed that AALME exhibits potent anti-IAV activity by interacting with IAV particles. Mechanistically, AALME directly targets the IAV nucleoprotein (NP) protein and abolishes the nuclear import of IAV NP. AALME profoundly suppresses IAV-induced mitochondrial apoptosis via suppressing ROS-mediated AIF-dependent pathways. More importantly, we found that AALME plays a crucial role in protecting mice from IAV infection and mitigating IAV pathogenicity. This current work provides mechanistic insight into the mechanism by which AALME controls IAV infection in vitro and in vivo, potentially contributing to the development of antiviral treatments for IAV infection.
- Artemisia annua L
- , Influenza A virus (IAV)
- , Nucleoprotein (NP)
- , Mitochondrial apoptosis

Electronic Supplementary Material

10.1016j.virs.2025.03.001-ESM2.xls

10.1016j.virs.2025.03.001-ESM1.docx
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