TITLE:
Recent Advances in Antiviral Research on Platycladus orientalis Leaves
AUTHORS:
Chenyuan Zhang, Yun Zheng
KEYWORDS:
Platycladus orientalis Leaves, Antiviral, Flavonoids, Hepatitis B Virus, Polysaccharides, Mechanism of Action
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.5,
May
22,
2026
ABSTRACT: Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco leaves, a traditional Chinese medicine, have been traditionally used to cool blood, stop bleeding, resolve phlegm, and relieve cough. In recent years, their antiviral potential has gained increasing attention. This review comprehensively summarizes research advances on the antiviral effects of P. orientalis leaves, focusing on active components, mechanisms of action, and quality control. Flavonoids, terpenoids, and polysaccharides isolated from P. orientalis leaves exhibit notable antiviral activities. To date, robust experimental evidence supports anti-HBV activity, with demonstrated efficacy in HepG2.2.15 cells by reducing HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA. For other viruses such as HSV and SARS-CoV-2, the potential remains speculative, with suggestions arising from structural similarities to known antiviral compounds or the inclusion of P. orientalis in multi-herb formulations, none of which have been validated by direct viral testing. Additionally, HPLC fingerprinting combined with chemical pattern recognition has been established for quality control. Current research limitations include insufficient in vivo studies and a lack of systematic evaluation of monomeric compounds. Future directions should focus on activity-guided isolation, molecular mechanism elucidation, and clinical application development. This review provides a reference for further development of P. orientalis leaves as antiviral agents.