Screening of the essential oil effects on human H1N1 influenza virus infection: an <i>in vitro</i> study in MDCK cells

Abstract

Nineteen essential oils (EOs) obtained from different plants have been evaluated for their potential <i>in vitro</i> anti-H1N1 influenza virus efficacy. Both multivariate analyses and bivariate correlation were performed to better understand how the composition influences the activity. The results evidenced that for the laboratory distilled EOs both rosemary hybrids (<i>S. x lavandulaceus</i> and <i>S. x mendizabalii</i>) showed a good antiviral activity with low cytotoxic effect. Concerning the commercial ones: <i>Eucalyptus globulus</i> and <i>Juniperus communis</i> EOs exhibited virtuous effects on influenza virus. These results were confirmed by the multivariate analyses and only eucalyptol showed a positive correlation with cell viability. On the contrary, <i>o</i>-cymene and terpinolene correlated to the inhibitory effect. <i>Rosemary hybrids, E. globulus</i> and <i>J. communis</i> could be considered as promising candidate to develop new alternative anti-H1N1 natural agent.