The Effects of β-Pinene, a Pine Needle Oil Monoterpene, on Adenovirus Type 3

The mechanisms of the inhibitory action of β-pinene, a pine needle oil monoterpene, on human adenovirus type 3 were studied using cytopathic inhibition test, MTT test, atomic force and laser confocal microscopy. β-Pinene inhibited the viruses stronger that the reference antiviral medication ribavirin (p<0.05). Inhibition of viral cytopathic effect (CPE) increased with increasing the concentration of β-pinene, which attested to direct elimination of adenovirus type 3. During viral reproduction phase, β-pinene significantly inhibited proliferation of adenovirus type 3. Typical signs of adenoviral CPE as cell swelling and rounding were less pronounced in comparison with the control (ribavirin treatment). In addition, elevation of β-pinene concentration significantly increased the cell survival rate (p<0.05). Laser confocal microscopy showed that fluorescence intensity in the β-pinene group was significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.01), which was consistent with the results of MTT test, thereby providing additional arguments that β-pinene affects the virus during the absorption phase. Thus, β-pinene directly inactivates adenovirus type 3 and impedes its invasion into the cells, but produces no protective effects on cells. Understanding the mode of action of such monoterpenes as β-pinene is of great importance for the development of new antiviral drugs.