2. Academic Validation
  3. Methanol extract of Artemisia argyi against influenza a virus via inhibition of PI3K-AKT pathway activation

Methanol extract of Artemisia argyi against influenza a virus via inhibition of PI3K-AKT pathway activation

  • J Ethnopharmacol. 2025 Nov 27:358:120973. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.120973.
Liuyue Yang 1,  Chengfei Li 2,  Yantao Li 1,  Xiaolu Sun 1,  Haiyin Mao 1,  Zhong Zou 3,  Meilin Jin 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China; Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, 430207, Hubei, China.
  • 2 National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China; Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, 430207, Hubei, China; College of Henan Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, China.
  • 3 National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China; Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, 430207, Hubei, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 4 National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China; Laboratory of Animal Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, 430207, Hubei, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41317814 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.120973
Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Artemisia argyi (A. argyi) is a traditional medicinal herb widely used in East Asia for treating inflammation-related diseases. Its historical applications include fumigating to prevent pestilence and processing into moxa for moxibustion to enhance immunity, suggesting potential Antiviral properties that align with its traditional use in "preventing plague".

Aim of the study: The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant Influenza A virus (IAV) strains and the limitations of existing antivirals necessitate the development of novel, broad-spectrum agents. This study aims to validate the traditional use of A. argyi by evaluating the anti-influenza efficacy of its methanol extract (AAE) and elucidating its underlying mechanism of action.

Materials and methods: The Antiviral activity of AAE against influenza A virus (IAV) was assessed in vitro. A multi-omics approach integrating metabolomics, transcriptomics, and network pharmacology was employed to predict the potential mechanisms, which were subsequently validated through experimental assays. Furthermore, the therapeutic efficacy of AAE was evaluated in a lethal H1N1 mouse model by monitoring survival rates, lung viral titer, and histopathological changes.

Results: AAE exhibited potent broad-spectrum anti-influenza activity with low cytotoxicity. Multi-omics analyses revealed that AAE primarily targets the host's PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Experimental validation confirmed that AAE inhibits viral replication by suppressing the activation of this pathway, thereby inducing Apoptosis in infected cells and attenuating excessive host inflammatory responses. Crucially, in vivo studies demonstrated that AAE treatment significantly enhanced survival rates, reduced lung viral loads, and alleviated virus-induced pulmonary pathology in mice.

Conclusion: This study provides a scientific basis for the traditional use of Artemisia argyi against viral infections. Our findings demonstrate that AAE is a promising broad-spectrum anti-influenza agent with efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. Its mechanism acts through the PI3K-AKT pathway, highlighting the potential of ethnopharmacology-driven approaches for developing multi-targeted Antiviral therapies.

Keywords

Apoptosis; Artemisia argyi; Influenza a viruses; Metabonomics; Network pharmacology; PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

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