Antiviral Activity and Mechanism of Cinnamon Essential Oil and Its Active Components

Viral diseases are still one of the major threats to human health all over the world. Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading rapidly in most parts of the world, not only threatening serious illness or death to anyone infected, especially the elderly or those in poor health, but also striking a major blow to the global economy. There is no specific treatment currently available. However, a large number of studies have confirmed that essential oils (EOs) and their active components have good inhibitory or killing effects on a series of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Therefore, in this chapter, we first introduce the antiviral activity of essential oils and their active components. Then the potential pharmacological effects of cinnamon on the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 were summarized. Finally, the potential antiviral mechanism of essential oil was analyzed. This work represents a new approach and hope against SARS-CoV2 and has great potential to complement and/or combine existing treatment strategies. At the same time, it also has important guiding significance for the effective research and development of drugs related to the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.