Antiviral and virucidal properties of essential oils against human viruses: A systematic review
Abstract
Context: Essential oils (EOs) have been investigated as potential antiviral agents, particularly because of their extracellular virucidal activity. Aims: This review synthesized evidence on whole EOs tested against viruses, with particular emphasis on human-virus evidence, and summarized reported mechanisms of action. Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to February 2023. Human, animal, plant-model, and mechanistic studies of whole EOs were eligible. Isolated constituents, fractions, insufficiently identified oils, and most EO mixtures were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed with the OHAT tool and its in vitro extension. Results: A total of 198 reports were included, yielding 203 design-specific experiments. Of these, 164 concerned human viruses or related surrogates. Most evidence was mechanistic. Overall, 123 experiments were rated Tier 1, 74 Tier 2, and 6 Tier 3. Activity was most frequently reported against herpes simplex viruses, influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, dengue virus, and coxsackieviruses. Several EOs showed favorable efficacy and selectivity in selected assays, and pre-adsorption mechanisms predominated. Conclusions: Whole EOs showed promising experimental antiviral activity, but clinical applicability remains uncertain because human evidence is limited and study designs, EO characterization, cytotoxicity reporting, and outcome measures were heterogeneous.
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BibTeX
@article{valussi2026antiviral,
title = {{Antiviral and virucidal properties of essential oils against human viruses: A systematic review}},
author = {Marco Valussi and Didier Pesoni and Pascale Frennet and Michele Antonelli and Davide Donelli},
journal = {Journal of Pharmacy \& Pharmacognosy Research},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.56499/jppres_14.5.2688},
url = {https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres_14.5.2688},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Antiviral and virucidal properties of essential oils against human viruses: A systematic review
AU - Marco Valussi
AU - Didier Pesoni
AU - Pascale Frennet
AU - Michele Antonelli
AU - Davide Donelli
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research
DO - 10.56499/jppres_14.5.2688
UR - https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres_14.5.2688
AB - Context: Essential oils (EOs) have been investigated as potential antiviral agents, particularly because of their extracellular virucidal activity. Aims: This review synthesized evidence on whole EOs tested against viruses, with particular emphasis on human-virus evidence, and summarized reported mechanisms of action. Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to February 2023. Human, animal, plant-model, and mechanistic studies of whole EOs were eligible. Isolated constituents, fractions, insufficiently identified oils, and most EO mixtures were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed with the OHAT tool and its in vitro extension. Results: A total of 198 reports were included, yielding 203 design-specific experiments. Of these, 164 concerned human viruses or related surrogates. Most evidence was mechanistic. Overall, 123 experiments were rated Tier 1, 74 Tier 2, and 6 Tier 3. Activity was most frequently reported against herpes simplex viruses, influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, dengue virus, and coxsackieviruses. Several EOs showed favorable efficacy and selectivity in selected assays, and pre-adsorption mechanisms predominated. Conclusions: Whole EOs showed promising experimental antiviral activity, but clinical applicability remains uncertain because human evidence is limited and study designs, EO characterization, cytotoxicity reporting, and outcome measures were heterogeneous.
SN - 0719-4250
ER -