Oregano Oil and Its Principal Component, Carvacrol, Inhibit HIV-1 Fusion into Target Cells
Sonia Mediouni, Joseph Jablonski, Shanel Tsuda, A. Barsamian, Cari F. Kessing, Audrey S. Richard, Avik Biswas, Fernanda Justo Lemes De Toledo, Viviane M. Andrade, Yasmine Even, Mario Stevenson, T. Tellinghuisen, Hyeryun Choe, Michael D. Cameron, Thomas D. Bannister, Susana T. Valente
Abstract
Oregano essential oil has multiple benefits in traditional medicine, cosmetics, and food industries. Carvacrol and its analog, thymol, are well-described components of oregano oil. Here, we show that these compounds inhibit HIV-target cell fusion independently of viral tropism. Our results suggest that carvacrol and thymol alter the cholesterol content of the viral membrane, blocking HIV-1 entry into the target cell. Resistance to carvacrol has selected for viruses with mutations in the viral envelope glycoprotein, gp41. This protein is known for its interaction with cholesterol present in membrane lipid rafts. Together, these results demonstrate the potential of therapies targeting the viral envelope membrane, and oregano oil is a safe supplement to antiretrovirals, potentially delaying disease progression and resistance development.