Abstract

MENESES, Rocío; TORRES, Flor Ángela; STASHENKO, Elena  and  OCAZIONEZ, Raquel E.. Essential oils from Colombian plants inactive dengue virus and yellow fever virus. Rev. Univ. Ind. Santander. Salud [online]. 2009, vol.41, n.3, pp.236-243. ISSN 0121-0807.

Introduction: Products obtained from plants can inhibit in vitro viruses that cause human diseases. An antiviral drug against dengue virus (DENV) and yellow fever virus (YFV) does not exist despite extensive research exploring synthetic compounds. Objective: To evaluate the inhibitory effect on DENV and YFV of essential oils obtained from Colombian plants. Materials and methods: Viruses were incubated with essential oil (100 μg/mL) 2 h at 37°C before cell adsorption and the inhibitory effect was determined by plaque reduction assay. Results: The essential oil obtained from 10 and 8 plants reduced from 74 to 100% DENV and YFV plaques, respectively. Essential oils from Lippia citriodora and Pimenta racemosa were the most active against both viruses causing 100% reduction of plaques. The magnitude of the inhibitory effect was related to the method of oil extraction and part of plant used. Conclusions: Essential oils from Colombian plants can inhibit the replication in vitro of DENV and YFV. Further studies determining the minimal inhibitory concentrations and selectivity index are needed in order to consider these plants as a source of antiviral compounds. Salud UIS 2009; 41: 236-243.

Keywords : Essential oils; antiviral; Colombian plants; dengue virus; yellow fever virus.

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