Virucidal activity of essential oils from aromatic plants of San Luis, Argentina

Essential oils obtained from eight aromatic plants of San Luis Province, Argentina, were screened for virucidal activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1), Junin virus (JUNV) and dengue virus type 2 (DEN‐2). The most potent inhibition was observed with the essential oil of Lippia junelliana and Lippia turbinata against JUNV with virucidal concentration 50% (VC50) values in the range 14–20 ppm, whereas Aloysia gratissima, Heterotheca latifolia and Tessaria absinthioides inhibited JUNV in the range 52–90 ppm. The virucidal activity was time‐ and temperature‐dependent. The essential oils of A. gratissima, Artemisia douglasiana, Eupatorium patens and T. absinthioides inactivated HSV‐1 at 65–125 ppm. However, only A. douglasiana and E. patens had any discernible effect on DEN‐2 infectivity with VC50 values of 60 and 150 ppm, respectively. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.