US EPA

1453369 

Journal Article 

Inhibitory Effect of Peppermint Extracts and Menthol against Herpes Simplex Virus Infection 

Yucharoen, R; Meepowpan, P; Tragoolpua, Y 

2012 

39 

1 

97-110 

WOS:000304076100010 

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is pathogenic to humans. This
study demonstrated anti-herpes simplex virus activity of dichloromethane and methanol extracts of
peppermint, and pure compound, menthol on green monkey kidney cells. The cells were prevented
from HSV-1 infection when the cells were treated before viral infection by the dichloromethane
and methanol extracts of peppermint with therapeutic indices (TI) of 1.79 and 1.09, respectively.
Dichloromethane extract of peppermint demonstrated higher inhibitory effects during HSV-1 and
HSV-2 adsorption with TI of 4.21 and 7.63 while TI of 5.41 and 3.15 were observed after HSV-1 and
HSV-2 adsorption. HSV-1 and HSV-2 were also inhibited by menthol with TI of 1.79 and 2.12 after
viral adsorption. HSV-1 and HSV-2 viral particles were directly inhibited and viral yield was
reduced when treatment with peppermint extracts and menthol. The inhibition of approximately 40
kDa HSV proteins, which might involve HSV capsid assembly, was observed after treatment with the
dichloromethane extract. Therefore, peppermint extracts and menthol showed anti-HSV activities at
various stages of the viral multiplication cycle. 

peppermint; menthol; herpes simplex virus