Activités antivirale et antioxydante in vitro d'huiles essentielles de Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffmans. & Link de Tunisie

Abstract

Three essential oil samples of Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffmans. & Link were tested for cytotoxicity by MTT assay in Vero cells and antiviral activity against type 1 Herpes simplex virus (HSV1), Echovirus 11 (ECV11) and Adenovirus (ADV) using cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction essay. In order to determine the mode of antiviral action of the essential oil, thyme was added at different times to the cells or viruses during infection. Both HSV1 and ECV11 were significantly inhibited when virus were pretreated with the essential oil prior to adsorption, while ADV was affected after penetration into the host cell. In vitro antioxidant properties of the essential oils, obtained by DPPH and ABTS assays, were interesting compared to the synthetic antioxidant Trolox. © 2010, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.