Alonso Fernández, SaraPeláez Prestel, Héctor FernandoRas Carmona, ÁlvaroMozas Gutiérrez, JuanReyes Manzanas, RaquelReche Gallardo, Pedro Antonio2026-01-282026-01-282024-08-19Citation: Fernandez, S.A.; Pelaez-Prestel, H.F.; Ras-Carmona, A.; Mozas-Gutierrez, J.; Reyes-Manzanas, R.; Reche, P.A. Eucalyptus Essential Oil Inhibits Cell Infection by SARS-CoV-2 Spike Pseudotyped Lentivirus. Biomedicines 2024, 12, 1885. https://doi.org/10.3390/ biomedicines120818852227-905910.3390/biomedicines12081885https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/131189Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a public health concern due to infections with new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Therefore, finding effective preventive and therapeutic treatments against all SARS-CoV-2 variants is of great interest. In this study, we examined the capacity of eucalyptus essential oil (EEO) and eucalyptol (EOL) to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, using as a model SARS-CoV-2 Spike pseudotyped lentivirus (SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus) and 293T cells transfected with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2-293T cells). First, we determined the cytotoxicity of EEO and EOL using the MTT colorimetric assay, selecting non-cytotoxic concentrations ≤ 0.1% (v/v) for further analysis. Subsequently, we evaluated the capacity of EEO and EOL in cell cultures to preclude infection of hACE2-293T cells by SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, using a luciferase-based assay. We found that EEO and EOL significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection, obtaining IC50 values of 0.00895% and 0.0042% (v/v), respectively. Likewise, EEO and EOL also reduced infection by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudovirus, although higher concentrations were required. Hence, EEO and EOL may be able to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection, at least partially, through a Spike-independent pathway, supporting the implementation of aromatherapy with these agents as a cost-effective antiviral measure.engAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/journal articlehttps://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12081885https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/8/1885open access612.017COVID-19SARS-CoV-2pseudoviruseucalyptus essential oileucalyptolinfection inhibition assayselectivity indexaromatherapyInmunología2412 Inmunología