Investigation of Antiviral Effects of Essential Oils

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) represent one of the most interesting natural products obtained from various aromatic plants. Their effective use in many industries including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, perfumes and food is predominantly attributed to their distinctive aroma and intriguing bioactivities. The chemical profile of these agents exhibited the presence of a variety of volatile constituents that are mainly classified into terpenes and oxygenated compounds. In fact, most of the EOs and essential oil components (EOCs) have received considerable attention in the last years, owing to their promising biological activities, for instance antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antispasmodic, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities. This chapter emphasizes particularly the potential antiviral effect of EOs by reviewing some recent literature. It illustrates the different methods implemented to investigate the in vitro antiviral activity of both EOs and EOCs, as well as their mechanisms of action. In addition, the efficacy of EOs against several viral infections affecting human body systems, some plants and animals is also highlighted. Besides, this chapter gives insights into the application of nanoencapsulation technology to improve EOs bioavailability and hence their antiviral efficacy.