Phytochemical analysis and in vitro antiviral activities of the essential oils of seven Lebanon species

The chemical composition of the essential oils of Laurus nobilis, Juniperus oxycedrus ssp. oxycedrus,Thuja orientalis, Cupressus sempervirens ssp. pyramidalis, Pistacia palaestina, Salvia officinalis, andSatureja thymbra was determined by GC/MS analysis. Essential oils have been evaluated for theirinhibitory activity against SARS-CoV and HSV-1 replication in vitro by visually scoring of the virus inducedcytopathogenic effect post-infection. L. nobilis oil exerted an interesting activity against SARSCoVwith an IC50 value of 120 microg/ml and a selectivity index (SI) of 4.16. This oil was characterized by thepresence of beta-ocimene, 1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene, and beta-pinene as the main constituents. J. oxycedrus ssp.oxycedrus oil, in which alpha-pinene and beta-myrcene were the major constituents, revealed antiviral activityagainst HSV-1 with an IC50 value of 200 microg/ml and a SI of 5.