Santolina insularis

Fattorusso, E. Santelia, F. U. Appendino, G. Ballero, M. Taglialatela-Scafati, O. Polyoxygenated Eudesmanes and trans-Chrysanthemanes from the Aerial Parts of Santolina insularis. J. Nat. Prod. 2004, 67, 37-41. 

EO of Melaleuca alternifolia and eucalyptus exhibited a high level of antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in a viral suspension test [125]. Also, Santolina insularis EO... 

Valenti et al. (2001) prepared a formulation of liposomal Santolina insularis EO. The authors evaluated the influence of the vesicular inclusion on the stability and in vitro antiviral activity of the EO. However, they concluded that free EO was more effective than liposomal oil, even though the vesicular inclusion had greatly improved oil stability and permitted its delivery in an efficacious composition even after 1 year of storage. 

Valenti, D., de Logu, A., Loy, G., Sinico, C., Bonsignore, L., Cottiglia, R, Garau, D., and Fadda, A. M. (2001). Liposome-incorporated Santolina insularis essential oils Eheparation, characterization and in vitro antiviral activity. Journal of Liposome Research, 11, 73-90. 

EOs have been used for therapeutic purposes and as cosmetics through human history. Their antimicrobial effects and their use in skin formulations have been known for centuries [82], which probably led to investigatiOTis of their antiviral activities on viral skin diseases. Indeed, human herpes viruses, for example, HSV-1 and HSV-2, are the most investigated viruses with EOs [83-94]. Topical treatments containing extracts from lemon balm and sage extracts are available for herpes labialis [80]. EOs obtained from Santolina insularis [85], Melissa officinalis L. [82], Melaleuca species [87], Houttuynia cordata [88], Australian tea tree and eucalyptus [90], Mentha piperita [91], and Salvia fruticosa [93] exhibited direct inactivation of HSV. 

De Logu et al. (2000) investigated the inactivation of HSV-1 and HSV-2 and the prevention of cell-to-cell virus spread by the EO of the Asteraceae Santolina insularis. The plaque-reduction assay showed an IC50 values of 0.88 p.g/mL for HSV-1 and 0.7 xg/mL for HSV-2, respectively, whereas another test on Vero cells showed a cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of 112 p.g/mL, which leads to a CC50/IC50 ratio of 127 for HSV-1 and 160 for HSV-2. These findings indicate that the antiviral effect of the EO was caused by direct virucidal effects. There was no antiviral activity detected in a postattachment assay. Dne to attachment assays it was shown that virus adsorption was not reduced. Additionally, the reduction of plaqne formation assay indicated that the EO reduced cell-to-cell transmission of both HSV-1 and HSV-2. 

Antiviral properties have been reported from several essential oils. Oils from Melaleuca alternifolia and Santolina insularis showed activity against Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. Some of this activity was also present in oils from peppermint and lemongrass [61]. 

The essential oil from Santolina insularis was also inhibited virus replication against HSV-1 and HSV-2 in vitro (Schnitzler et al. 2008). Its antiviral activity was principally due to direct virucidal effects (De Logu et al. 2000). Lemon balm oil, the essential oil of Melissa officinalis, is capable of exerting a direct antiviral effect on HSV-1 and HSV-2. Considering the lipophilic nature of essential oils, which enable it to penetrate the skin, and a high selectivity index, essential oils might be suitable for topical treatment of herpetic infections (Schnitzler et al. 2008). 

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