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EPA Method 1615. Measurement of Enterovirus and Norovirus Occurrence in Water by Culture and RT-qPCR. II. Total Culturable Virus Assay
Published on: September 11, 2016
Natural plant essential oils do not inactivate non-enveloped enteric viruses
Katarina Kovač1, Marta Diez-Valcarce, Peter Raspor
1Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León (ITACyL), Ctra. Burgos, Km. 119, 47071, Valladolid, Spain.
Plant essential oils (EOs) like hyssop and marjoram showed no significant antiviral activity against non-enveloped viruses. Murine norovirus and human adenovirus remained infectious after EO application under various conditions.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Natural Products Chemistry
Background:
- Non-enveloped viruses pose significant public health challenges due to their environmental stability.
- Plant essential oils (EOs) are explored for their potential antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
- Virucidal efficacy of specific EOs against resilient virus types requires thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of hyssop and marjoram essential oils in inactivating non-enveloped viruses.
- To determine if temperature and time influence the virucidal activity of these EOs.
- To assess the potential of these EOs as disinfectants against model viruses.
Main Methods:
- Murine norovirus and human adenovirus were treated with hyssop and marjoram essential oils.
- Virus inactivation was assessed by determining virus titres (TCID50) after treatment.
- Experiments were conducted under varying temperature and time conditions.
Main Results:
- No significant reduction in virus titres was observed for either murine norovirus or human adenovirus.
- The application of hyssop and marjoram essential oils did not demonstrate virucidal effects under the tested conditions.
- Varying temperatures and exposure times did not enhance the inactivation efficacy of the essential oils.
Conclusions:
- Hyssop and marjoram essential oils are not effective for inactivating non-enveloped viruses like murine norovirus and human adenovirus.
- These specific plant-derived oils lack sufficient virucidal activity for practical disinfection applications against these viruses.
- Further research may be needed to explore other plant essential oils or combinations for effective antiviral strategies.
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