"Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), purified from the leaves of pokeweed plant (Phytolacca americana), was found to be a potent inhibitor of eukaryotic protein synthesis [1] and several plant and animal viruses [2,3] more than four decades ago [4]. PAP’s inhibitor capacity has been attributed to its enzymatic activity on the ribosomes"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4379523/
"Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) from Phytolacca americana is a ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) and is an RNA N-glycosidase that removes specific purine residues from the sarcin/ricin (S/R) loop of large rRNA, arresting protein synthesis at the translocation step. PAP is thought to play an important role in the plant’s defense mechanism against foreign pathogens."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4344624/
"Even though pokeweed is known to be poisonous to humans and other mammals, some herbalists believe it can be used safely. These practitioners sometimes claim it is no more toxic than the pharmaceutical drugs used to treat many of the same conditions. Unfortunately, though, there hasn't been much research into pokeweed’s medicinal properties or its safety.
Many of pokeweed's purported benefits are attributed to a compound called pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP)."
https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-pokeweed-provide-health-benefits-4587368
"Pokeweed antiviral protein shows broad antiviral activity in vitro, and inhibits replication of herpes simplex, influenza and poliovirus, possibly via inactivation of eukaryotic ribosomes"
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/pokeweed
"Researchers from India have even found that pokeweed can be used together with antivirals to treat severe infections, including Japanese encephalitis, based on a case study they published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine."
https://growyourmedicine.com/2019-05-12-antiviral-potential-of-pokeweed.html
"Clinical Uses: Increases the bodies elimination of waste materials (Yance, 1999). Useful against cancers of the breast, throat, and uterus (Yance, 1999). Antiviral via pokeweed antiviral proteins or phytolaccins (Yance, 1999).
Studies:
Studies support the use of Phytolacca americana in the treatement of various cancers and viruses. However, most studies have been in vitro or in vivo with rats, so further study is needed.
An in vitro study showed potential for interfering with viral protein coding in HIV REV cells. PAP may depurinate REV mRNA, decreasing REV mRNA translation efficiency. This warrants further research into the use of PAP and Phytolacca americana as an antiviral.
Pokeweed antiviral protein alters splicing of HIV-1 RNAs, resulting in reduced virus production
Pokeweed antiviral protein was found in vitro to inhibit the production of HTLV-1, the deltraretrovirus that can cause T-cell leukemia. This inhibition was found to be due to depurination of the virus’s RNA and decreased amount of viral transactivator protein, Tax."
https://www.eclecticschoolofherbalmedicine.com/poke-weed/