Arctigenin is the aglycone of arctiin and is a lignan found in certain plants of the Asteraceae. It has shown antiviral and anticancer effects in glass. It showed potent in vitro antiviral activities against influenza A virus (A/NWS/33, H1N1) (IFV). It selectively altered the phosphorylation of members of the MAPK superfamily, decreasing phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and activated phosphorylation of p38 significantly in a dose-dependent manner.