Kazakh researchers ID antiviral and anti-inflammatory compounds in native medicinal plants

Researchers at Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU) have identified biologically active compounds with antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects in several plant species native to Kazakhstan, providing new chemical and experimental data on medicinal flora from Central Asia.

In a coordinated series of laboratory studies, the team analyzed five plant species traditionally used in the region: Adonis tianschanica, Artemisia cina, Fritillaria karelinii, white mulberry (Morus alba), and Eryngium planum. Using high-resolution chromatographic profiling and cell-based assays, the researchers characterized dozens of phytochemicals and evaluated their biological activity.

In one study, hydroethanolic extracts of Adonis tianschanica reduced inflammatory responses in LPS-stimulated macrophage cells. At tested concentrations, the extract decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels by approximately 63.6% and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) by 34.6%. The team isolated isoquercitrin as a major compound; in cellular models, it reduced IL-1β production by 52.7%, demonstrating measurable anti-inflammatory activity.

Antiviral candidates

Separate investigations examined the antiviral and toxicity profile of biologically active substances derived from Artemisia cina in vitro and in vivo. The findings provide experimental evidence supporting further evaluation of Kazakhstan-derived Artemisia species as potential antiviral candidates.

Phytochemical analysis of white mulberry (Morus alba) fruits grown in Kazakhstan identified 57 compounds in CO₂ extracts, including eucalyptol and eugenol—molecules previously reported to possess antimicrobial and antiviral properties. The study also quantified amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and mineral content, contributing region-specific compositional data.

Across the studies, researchers employed subcritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) extraction, an environmentally friendly technique that preserves thermolabile compounds and avoids solvent residues. Advanced analytical methods—including HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and GC-MS—were used to generate detailed chemical fingerprints of each species.

“Systematic phytochemical characterization is essential to move traditional medicinal plants toward evidence-based evaluation,” the research team noted. “Our work provides reproducible chemical and biological data on species that have been understudied internationally.”

Medicinal plant research

Natural products remain a major source of pharmaceutical discovery, particularly in the development of anti-infective and anti-inflammatory drugs. By combining chemical profiling with functional assays, the KazNMU studies contribute new data from a geographically underrepresented region in medicinal plant research.

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The researchers emphasize that further pharmacological and clinical investigations will be required to determine therapeutic applications. However, the findings, summarised in this YouTube video, establish a scientific baseline for future translational research on Kazakhstan’s medicinal flora.