Exploring essential oils as prospective therapy against the ravaging Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

Abstract

Introduction: Aromatic plants produce diverse chemical constituents with potential to inhibit viral infections. These plants have been utilized for the prevention and treatment of a range of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Essential oils are among the plant-derived antiviral agents that are being employed in phytomedicine, and are considered as prospective drug candidate against the ravaging Coronavirus. Methods: Relevant articles relating to the concept were identified using a combination of manual library search as well as journal publication on the subject and critically reviewed. Results: Essential oils in medicinal plants have extensive applications in medicinal chemistry, aromatherapy and pharmaceuticals. Essential oils have several biological properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo. Several reports have analyzed and described essential oils as good antiviral agents against Respiratory tract viral infections hence are excellent prospective candidate against Corona virus. Conclusions: It is hoped that efficient and effective exploration and optimization of essential oils from medicinal plants would improve the drug discovery process against the ravaging Coronavirus.

An Evaluation of the Potential of Essential Oils against SARS-CoV-2 from In Silico Studies through the Systematic Review Using a Chemometric Approach

“…Review studies have assumed that EOs have antiviral potential against SARS-CoV-2 due to their known action against several other viruses and for managing symptoms in patients with COVID-19 [14][15][16][17]. Despite that, there is little data gathered regarding the active potential of EOs against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.…”

Quantitative Removal of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Essential Oils by the Hydrodistillation Step in Their Manufacturing Process

“…But also beyond that, essential oils bear an enormous therapeutic potential 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 . Although primarily in vitro data are available so far, they might prospectively even be employed as anticancer agents 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 or – most relevant in recent times – as antiviral compounds 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 .…”

Essential oils block cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant

“…Among the secondary metabolism products of plants, essential oils (EOs) have shown promising antiviral activity against several viruses 16 . For this reason, these oils have been considered a potential source of bioactive compounds for impairing SARS-CoV-2 replication or supporting the treatment of some symptoms of COVID-19 17,18 .In the last two years, numerous review articles have hypothesized an effective action of EOs against SARS-CoV-2 based on their activity against other viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza A virus (H1N1), Zika virus, human herpes virus (HSV) and, avian influenza A virus (H5N1) and among others 16,[19][20][21][22][23] . Similarly, in silico studies have addressed a high binding affinity of numerous subclasses of terpenes and sesquiterpenes in the main target proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, such as main protease (M pro /3CL pro ), spike protein (S pro ), angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), enzyme transmembrane protease serine-type 2…”

“…In the last two years, numerous review articles have hypothesized an effective action of EOs against SARS-CoV-2 based on their activity against other viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza A virus (H1N1), Zika virus, human herpes virus (HSV) and, avian influenza A virus (H5N1) and among others 16,[19][20][21][22][23] . Similarly, in silico studies have addressed a high binding affinity of numerous subclasses of terpenes and sesquiterpenes in the main target proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, such as main protease (M pro /3CL pro ), spike protein (S pro ), angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), enzyme transmembrane protease serine-type 2…”