Influenza viruses pose a severe threat to human health and a significant increase in antiviral drug-resistant among influenza viruses worldwide has been observed. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop the new antiviral drugs, specifically from the natural products. In this study, the anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activities of coumarins against influenza A virus in vitro were investigated. One of the derivatives eleutheroside B-1 showed a wide spectrum of anti-human influenza virus effect with the IC50 value of 64-125 mu g/ml in vitro, but it showed no effects against avian influenza virus. The time of addition was done and the results indicated that it had a potent antiviral effect when added at 0-6 h, and also the virus yield was reduced by 60%. The influenza virus ribonucleoprotein was inhibited at 200 mu g/ml, and also the NP mRNA expression was inhibited at 50 and 200 mu g/ml. The expression level of cytokines and chemokines influenced by eleutheroside B-1 was further demonstrated, the IL-6, CXCL-8, CCL-2 expression were all inhibited by the eleuthe roside B-1 at concentration 200 mu g/ml. The findings of study suggest that eleutheroside B-1 can be as potential agent to develop for the prevention and treatment of influenza A virus. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.