Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

A mixture of essential oils from three Cretan Aromatic Plants inhibits SARS-CoV-2 proliferation: A Proof-of-Concept intervention study in ambulatory patients

Christos Lionis
* ORCID logo ,
Elena Petelos
ORCID logo ,
Manolis Linardakis
ORCID logo ,
Athanasios Diamantakis
,
Emmanouil Symvoulakis
,
Maria-Nefeli Karkana
ORCID logo ,
Marile Kampa
,
Stergios A Pirintsos
,
George Sourvinos
,
Elias Castanas
ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 17 July 2023 / Approved: 18 July 2023 / Online: 19 July 2023 (08:38:27 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Lionis, C.; Petelos, E.; Linardakis, M.; Diamantakis, A.; Symvoulakis, E.; Karkana, M.-N.; Kampa, M.; Pirintsos, S.A.; Sourvinos, G.; Castanas, E. A Mixture of Essential Oils from Three Cretan Aromatic Plants Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Proliferation: A Proof-of-Concept Intervention Study in Ambulatory Patients. Diseases 2023, 11, 105. Lionis, C.; Petelos, E.; Linardakis, M.; Diamantakis, A.; Symvoulakis, E.; Karkana, M.-N.; Kampa, M.; Pirintsos, S.A.; Sourvinos, G.; Castanas, E. A Mixture of Essential Oils from Three Cretan Aromatic Plants Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Proliferation: A Proof-of-Concept Intervention Study in Ambulatory Patients. Diseases 2023, 11, 105.

Abstract

Introduction: The need for therapeutic regimens for non-critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic remains unmet. Previous work has shown that a combination of three aromatic plants’ essential oil (CAPeo) (Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., Origanum dictamnus L., Salvia fruticosa Mill.) has remarkable in vitro antiviral activity. Given its properties, it was urgent to explore its potential in treating mild COVID-19 patients in primary care. Methods: 69 adult patients were included in a clinical, Proof-of-Concept (PoC) intervention study. Family physicians implemented the observational study in two arms (intervention and control group) during three study periods (IG2020, n=13, IG2021/22, n=25 and CG2021/22, n=31). The SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by real-time PCR. The CAPeo mixture, was administered daily for 14 days, per os in the intervention group, while the control group received usual care. Results: The PoC study, found that the number and frequency of general symptoms, including general fatigue, weakness, fever and myalgia, decreased following CAPeo administration. The average presence (number) of symptoms decreased in IG (4.7 to 1.4) as well as in CG (4.0 to 3.1) by Day 7 compared to Day 1, representing a significant decrease in cumulative presence in IC (-3.3 vs. -0.9, p<0.001; η2=0.20) on Day 7 and on Day 14 (-4.2 vs. -2.9, p=0.027; η2=0.08). Discussion/Conclusion: Our findings suggest that CAPeo, possesses potent antiviral activity, in addition tο the Influenza A and B and the human rhinovirus HRV14 strains against SARS-CoV-2. The early and effective impact in alleviating key symptoms of COVID-19 may suggest this mixture can act as a complementary natural agent for mild COVID-19 patients

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, natural products, essential oils, effectiveness

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Clinical Medicine

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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