Antiviral and Virucidal Properties of Essential Oils and Isolated Compounds – A Scientific Approach

Abstract

Essential oils and isolated essential oil compounds are known to exert various pharmacological effects, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and wound healing effects. Based on selected articles, this review deals with the potential antiviral and virucidal activities of essential oils and essential oil compounds together with their mechanism of action as well as in silico studies involving viral and host cell-specific target molecules that are indispensable for virus cell adsorption, penetration, and replication. The reported in vitro and in vivo studies highlight the baseline data about the latest findings of essential oils and essential oil compounds antiviral and virucidal effects on enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, taking into account available biochemical and molecular biological tests. The results of many in vitro studies revealed that several essential oils and essential oil compounds from different medicinal and aromatic plants are potent antiviral and virucidal agents that inhibit viral progeny by blocking different steps of the viral infection/replication cycle of DNA and RNA viruses in various host cell lines. Studies in mice infected with viruses causing respiratory diseases showed that different essential oils and essential oil compounds were able to prolong the life of infected animals, reduce virus titers in brain and lung tissues, and significantly inhibit the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In addition, some in vitro studies on hydrophilic nano-delivery systems encapsulating essential oils/essential oil compounds exhibited a promising way to improve the chemical stability and enhance the water solubility, bioavailabilty, and antiviral efficacy of essential oils and essential oil compounds.

Agathis robusta Bark Essential Oil Effectiveness against COVID-19: Chemical Composition, In Silico and In Vitro Approaches

“…Several EOs and their isolated components have been described in In Vitro and in vivo models as effective antiviral agents against DNA and RNA viruses in different host cell lines by obstructing different steps of the viral life cycle [ 38 ]. These impacts are mainly based on the oil composition of mono- and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons together with phenolic, alcoholic, and other oxygenated other components [ 38 , 39 ].…”

“…Several EOs and their isolated components have been described in In Vitro and in vivo models as effective antiviral agents against DNA and RNA viruses in different host cell lines by obstructing different steps of the viral life cycle [ 38 ]. These impacts are mainly based on the oil composition of mono- and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons together with phenolic, alcoholic, and other oxygenated other components [ 38 , 39 ]. Several EOs have been recognized for their antiviral activities against a diversity of viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human herpes virus (HSV), avian influenza A virus (H5N1), influenza A virus (H1N1) and Zika virus [ 23 ].…”

“…Isolated monoterpenes such as α -pinene and α -terpineol exerted significant antiviral activity against HSV-1, with elevated selectivity index, demonstrated by the inhibition of HSV-1 plaque formation [ 43 ]. α -Terpineol owns activity against IFV-A by delaying the early steps in the viral replication cycle [ 38 ]. α -Pinene and β -pinene inhibit the binding between RNA and the IBV N-protein, thereby possessing anti-IBV activity [ 44 ].…”

“…α -Pinene and β -pinene inhibit the binding between RNA and the IBV N-protein, thereby possessing anti-IBV activity [ 44 ]. Moreover, in silico studies emphasized their activity against SARS-CoV-2 by binding to the active site of Mpro, human serine protease TMPRSS2 and spike (S) glycoprotein [ 38 , 43 ].…”

Machine Learning Analysis of Essential Oils from Cuban Plants: Potential Activity against Protozoa Parasites

“…In particular, numerous studies demonstrated the wide pharmacological spectrum of EOs, including: antimicrobial [7,8], antifungal [9], antiparasitic [10], antiviral [10,11], insecticidal [12], anticarcinogenic [13][14][15][16], immunomodulatory [17], anti-inflammatory and antioxidant [14]. Nevertheless, the chemical composition of obtained EOs can unfortunately be different depending on the chosen method, geographical origins, the season, the type of soil and the agricultural conditions in which plants have grown.…”