PubMed · 2026-05-13
Researchers tested extracts from three native South American grassland plants and found that five of six extracts could directly neutralize cattle viruses, with specific flavonoids — quercetin, kaempferol, and tiliroside — fighting infection both by disabling viral particles and by switching on immune defense genes in animal cells.
5 of 6 plant extracts showed direct virus-killing activity against both Bovine Herpesvirus type 1 and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in lab tests
17 phenolic compounds were identified; quercetin, kaempferol, and tiliroside each showed distinct antiviral profiles, with molecular docking scores ≤ −7 kcal/mol indicating strong binding to viral target proteins
All three flavonoids altered expression of immune-signaling genes (IFNα, IFNβ, ISG15) in infected cells, pointing to a dual mechanism: direct virus neutralization plus boosting the cell's own antiviral alarm system
