Molecules, Vol. 27, Pages 7797: Essential Oils and Their Compounds as Potential Anti-Influenza Agents

Molecules, Vol. 27, Pages 7797: Essential Oils and Their Compounds as Potential Anti-Influenza Agents Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules27227797 Authors: Ayodeji Oluwabunmi Oriola Adebola Omowunmi Oyedeji Essential oils (EOs) are chemical substances, mostly produced by aromatic plants in response to stress, that have a history of medicinal use for many diseases. In the last few decades, EOs have continued to gain more attention because of their proven therapeutic applications against the flu and other infectious diseases. Influenza (flu) is an infectious zoonotic disease that affects the lungs and their associated organs. It is a public health problem with a huge health burden, causing a seasonal outbreak every year. Occasionally, it comes as a disease pandemic with unprecedentedly high hospitalization and mortality. Currently, influenza is managed by vaccination and antiviral drugs such as Amantadine, Rimantadine, Oseltamivir, Peramivir, Zanamivir, and Baloxavir. However, the adverse side effects of these drugs, the rapid and unlimited variabilities of influenza viruses, and the emerging resistance of new virus strains to the currently used vaccines and drugs have necessitated the need to obtain more effective anti-influenza agents. In this review, essential oils are discussed in terms of their chemistry, ethnomedicinal values against flu-related illnesses, biological potential as anti-influenza agents, and mechanisms of action. In addition, the structure-activity re...
Source: Molecules - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research