The sweet-smelling honeysuckle plant (Lonicera japonica) has been used for generations in traditional Chinese medicine to treat influenza infections. While it’s been known to block the replication of the influenza virus, the mechanism and active components in the plant have remained a mystery until now. In a new study published in Cell Research, scientists from the Nanjing University in China studied the honeysuckle plant and identified a plant microRNA called MIR2911. MicroRNAs are small molecules found in plants and animals that play an important role in influencing the pathways responsible for many diseases. In clinical trials, this molecule was able to suppress deadly influenza A viruses such as swine flu (H1N1) and bird flu (H5N1).
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