Dr. Dhiaa Raheem Al-Tamimi, Pharmacy Faculty member at Al-Zahraa University for Women, has published a research study in the Scopus-indexed journal Report of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Q4), investigating the effectiveness of herbal compound Punicalagin in combating influenza A virus. The study employed molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to assess Punicalagin’s interaction with 11 viral proteins. The results demonstrated a strong binding affinity to the PB1-F2 protein, with a binding energy of −5.76 kcal/mol. Furthermore, Punicalagin’s interaction with PB1-F2 led to a significant reduction in the radius of gyration, RMSD, and total average energy, as well as notable alterations in the protein’s secondary structure (P < 0.001). It bears noting that PB1-F2 is a key viral protein implicated in inflammation associated with influenza infections, suggesting that Punicalagin may have potential anti-inflammatory effects for patients affected by the virus. It goes without saying that these findings pave the way for further exploration of herbal compounds in antiviral drug development, reinforcing the importance of natural product-based therapies in modern medicine.

Translated by Zahra' Ala', revised by Asst. Lect. Inam Mohammed