Antiviral activity of the Lippia graveolens (Mexican oregano) essential oil and its main compound carvacrol against human and animal viruses
Braz. j. microbiol
;
42(4): 1616-1624, Oct.-Dec. 2011. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-614628
ABSTRACT
Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) is a plant found in Mexico and Central America that is traditionally used as a medicinal herb. In the present study, we investigated the antiviral activity of the essential oil of Mexican oregano and its major component, carvacrol, against different human and animal viruses. The MTT test (3-4,5-dimethythiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) was conducted to determine the selectivity index (SI) of the essential oil, which was equal to 13.1, 7.4, 10.8, 9.7, and 7.2 for acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 (ACVR-HHV-1), acyclovir-sensitive HHV-1, human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), bovine herpesvirus type 2 (BoHV-2), and bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), respectively. The human rotavirus (RV) and BoHV-1 and 5 were not inhibited by the essential oil. Carvacrol alone exhibited high antiviral activity against RV with a SI of 33, but it was less efficient than the oil for the other viruses. Thus, Mexican oregano oil and its main component, carvacrol, are able to inhibit different human and animal viruses in vitro. Specifically, the antiviral effects of Mexican oregano oil on ACVR-HHV-1 and HRSV and of carvacrol on RV justify more detailed studies.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Antiviral Agents
/
Plants, Medicinal
/
In Vitro Techniques
/
RNA, Viral
/
Oils, Volatile
/
Lippia mexicana
/
Verbenaceae
/
DNA Viruses
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Mexico
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. j. microbiol
Journal subject:
Microbiology
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria/BR
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