The use of aromatic plants and their therapeutic potential as antiviral agents: A hope for finding anti-COVID 19 essential oils

The human population worldwide has been challenged since December 2019 by the emerging COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2. The severity of the infection ranges from mild symptoms such as fever, cough and dizziness to severe illness and even death. Herbal medicines have been long used to attenuate infectious diseases due to their lower side effects, low cost and reduced potential to cause resistance. Observations from traditional medicine revealed that many plant-derived essential oils can be effective in the prevention and treatment of viral-induced respiratory tract infections. By this review, we aimed to call for screening essential oils for prevention or treatment of COVID-19. This review further highlights the possibility that the antiviral properties of essential oils enable them to be engaged in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Pharmaceutical industries are in need of ecofriendly effective antiviral drugs and essential oils may be the future core for lead drug bio-discovery.