Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Modeling Dysplastic and Functional Lung Alveolar Repair after Influenza Infection
Published on: September 19, 2025
A dietary supplement improves outcome in an experimental influenza model in old mice
Abstract:
Twenty-month-old Swiss mice were allocated into three groups: (A) control; (B) infected group; and (C) infected but treated with 5 mg of the phytocompound MMT. Mice were infected intranasally with 30 microL of 75 HA viral units. MMT markedly blunted the nasal signs of virus infection and the febrile response. Formazan-positive cells, lung and plasma lipoperoxides, and TNF-alpha in lung tissue increased during viral infection, but improvement was seen in the MMT-treated group (P < 0.05). MMT also normalized SOD, catalase activities, and ascorbic acid and determined a significant decrease of lung but not nasal viral titer, although nasal inflammatory infiltrate dropped significantly. MMT has potential clinical applications with and has an excellent safety profile even in old animals.
Insights
The phytocompound MMT reduced viral infection symptoms and fever in mice. MMT also improved antioxidant levels and decreased viral load in the lungs, showing potential clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Viral infections in elderly animals can lead to significant morbidity.
- Phytocompounds are increasingly investigated for therapeutic potential.
- Inflammation and oxidative stress are key components of viral pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of the phytocompound MMT against a viral infection in aged mice.
- To assess the impact of MMT on clinical signs, viral load, and oxidative stress markers.
- To determine the safety profile of MMT in elderly animals.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-month-old Swiss mice were divided into control, infected, and MMT-treated groups.
- Mice were infected intranasally with a standardized viral inoculum.
- Nasal signs, fever, viral titers, oxidative stress markers (lipoperoxides, TNF-alpha), and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, catalase) were measured.
Main Results:
- MMT treatment significantly reduced nasal signs of infection and fever.
- Viral infection markers like formazan-positive cells, lipoperoxides, and TNF-alpha were reduced by MMT.
- MMT normalized antioxidant enzyme activities and ascorbic acid levels.
- A significant decrease in lung viral titer and nasal inflammatory infiltrate was observed with MMT.
Conclusions:
- The phytocompound MMT demonstrates significant antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects in aged mice.
- MMT effectively mitigates clinical signs and pathological markers associated with viral infection.
- MMT exhibits a favorable safety profile, suggesting potential for clinical application in managing viral infections, even in elderly subjects.
