Journal of Advanced Bioinformatics Applications and Research ISSN 0976-2604.Online ISSN 2278–6007 Vol 5, Issue2, 2014, pp83-91 http://www.bipublication.com BIOPROSPECTION FOR IDENTIFICATION OF PROMISING ANTIMICROBIALS OF HERBAL ORIGIN AGAINST HIGHLY VIRULENT STRAINS OF INFLUENZA VIRUS Pallavi Thakur 1 , Raman Chawla 1* , Shoaib Iqbal 1 , Raghav Nagpal 1 , Rajeev Goel 1 , Shyam S. Grover 2 , Namita Singh 3 , Alka Narula 4 , Rajesh Arora 5 and Rakesh K. Sharma 1 1 Division of CBRN Defence, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Delhi - 110054, India 2 Department of Microbiology, National Centre for Disease Control, Sham Nath Marg, Delhi - 110054, India 3 Department of Bio and Nano Technology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar - 125001, India 4 Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Hamdard, Delhi - 110062, India 5 Office of DG (LS), Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi - 110011, India * Corresponding author: Email: drrcphd@gmail.com, Tel: +91-11- 23914356 [Received-27/03/2014, Accepted-07/04/2014] ABSTRACT: H5N1 is enzootic in many world populations especially in Southeast Asia. One strain of HPAI- A (H5N1) i.e. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Type A, Subtype H5N1, is spreading globally after first appearing in Asia in between 2003 to 2011, a total of 566 confirmed human cases have been reported resulting in 332 deaths in several countries. Treatment with anti-influenza drugs, like amantadine or neuraminidase inhibitors, resulted in emergence of resistant variants. Therefore, further virological studies are urgently needed and effective strategic measures for new and amply available antiviral agents for mitigating avian influenza A (H5N1) virus must be desirable. The current bioprospective study aims to investigate the probable potential of various natural plants dependent on bioactivity parameters and presence of chemical constituents, using matrix based modeling, accompanied by optimization. The outcomes of the lead identification need verification for confirming antiviral potential against virulent H1N1 virus. Keywords: Antiviral agents, Herbal mitigation, Matrix modeling, Ethno pharmacology, Influenza Virus, H1N1 [I] INTRODUCTION The influenza virus, accepted as a circulating pathogen inside the population since 16 th century, is notable to its unique capacity to cause recurrent epidemics and global pandemics [1]. The ability