Comparative in vitro study of antiviral activity of essential oils and disinfectants of different groups against SARS-CoV-2 strains with different virulence
Authors:   Federal Budgetary Institution of Science «State Scientific Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of the Federal Service for Supervision in the Field of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Solodky Vladislav V. , Os’kina Oksana P. ,   Federal Budgetary Institution of Science «State Scientific Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of the Federal Service for Supervision in the Field of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Gosteva Tatyana A. ,   Federal Budgetary Institution of Science «State Scientific Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of the Federal Service for Supervision in the Field of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Zolin Vladimir V. ,   Federal Budgetary Institution of Science «State Scientific Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of the Federal Service for Supervision in the Field of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being
Published: December 2024

Introduction. To study the antiviral activity of essential oils against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, essential oils of conifers and other plants with known antimicrobial and antiseptic properties were studied. Comparative studies were conducted to study the antiviral activity of disinfectants of different groups widely used in practical healthcare, such as chloramine, formalin and ethyl alcohol, with the virucidal activity of selected essential oils against two strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with different virulence. Objectiv. To compare the antiviral activity of essential oils against selected strains of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus using the suspension method and the author’s method of contactless exposure, and to compare it with the antiviral activity of vapors of known disinfectants used to disinfect virological boxed rooms. Materials and methods. A comparative study of the antiviral activity of essential oils and disinfectants was carried out using the suspension method and the author’s non-contact exposure method specially developed for this study. Non-contact exposure method: the coronavirus viral suspension was applied to the surface of the lid of sterile plastic Petri dishes. Essential oils and disinfectants were applied to the inner surface of the bottom of the Petri dishes. After exposure to vapors of essential oils or disinfectants (without direct contact) on the SARS-CoV-2 viral suspension, swabs were taken from the surface of the Petri dish lid. The residual infectious activity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was determined by TCD50/ml using the standard titration method in Vero E6 cell culture. Results. The results obtained during the studies using these methods showed that essential oils are capable of suppressing the infectious activity of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Essential oils of coniferous plants had the greatest antiviral ability. Essential oils of juniper, pine and tea tree had a fairly high antiviral effect, while essential oils of thyme, orange and clove had a moderate effect. Conclusion. Essential oils are effective disinfectants that can suppress the infectious activity of the studied strains of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Keywords: essential oils, antiviral activity, disinfectants, formalin, SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.