Human noroviruses (HuNoV) are the dominant cause of viral gastroenteritis in all age groups worldwide. In this study, we investigated the effects of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) on the reduction of HuNoV in different food models, on surfaces of fresh produce (green onion and cherry tomato), in low-fat milk, and simulated gastrointestinal fluids. The antiviral efficacy of PPE against HuNoV was evaluated by quantifying the number of residual virus genomes using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assay. Pomegranate peel, considered as a waste product of industrial processing, is known for beneficial health effects and broad antimicrobial activity due to the high content of phenolic compounds and tannins. PPE showed significant antiviral properties against HuNoV both in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and simulated gastric fluid. The reduction of HuNoV by pomegranate juice was lower than with PPE, which could be attributed to the lower content of antimicrobial compounds. A pretreatment of cherry tomato and green onion surfaces with PPE significantly reduced the amount of HuNoV particles that adhered to those surfaces during subsequent virus suspension treatment. A detrimental effect of PPE on HuNoV structure was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Our results indicate that PPE is a natural antiviral agent effective against food-borne noroviruses.

人类诺如病毒（HuNoV）是全世界所有年龄段病毒性肠胃炎的主要原因。在这项研究中，我们调查了石榴皮提取物（PPE）在不同食物模型，新鲜农产品（大葱和樱桃番茄）表面，低脂牛奶和模拟胃肠液中减少HuNoV的影响。通过使用定量逆转录PCR（qRT-PCR）分析定量残留病毒基因组的数量，评估了PPE对HuNoV的抗病毒效力。石榴皮被认为是工业加工的废品，因其有益的健康作用和广泛的抗菌活性而闻名，原因是酚类化合物和单宁含量高。PPE在磷酸盐缓冲盐水（PBS）和模拟胃液中均表现出对HuNoV的显着抗病毒特性。石榴汁对HuNoV的降低低于PPE，这可能归因于抗菌化合物的含量较低。用PPE预处理樱桃番茄和大葱表面可显着减少随后的病毒悬浮液处理过程中粘附在这些表面上的HuNoV颗粒的数量。通过透射电子显微镜证实了PPE对HuNoV结构的有害作用。我们的结果表明，PPE是一种天然抗病毒剂，可有效抵抗食源性诺如病毒。用PPE预处理樱桃番茄和大葱表面可显着减少随后的病毒悬浮液处理过程中粘附在这些表面上的HuNoV颗粒的数量。通过透射电子显微镜证实了PPE对HuNoV结构的有害作用。我们的结果表明，PPE是一种天然抗病毒剂，可有效抵抗食源性诺如病毒。用PPE预处理樱桃番茄和大葱表面可显着减少随后的病毒悬浮液处理过程中粘附在这些表面上的HuNoV颗粒的数量。通过透射电子显微镜证实了PPE对HuNoV结构的有害作用。我们的结果表明，PPE是一种天然抗病毒剂，可有效抵抗食源性诺如病毒。