Phytochemical Analysis and in Vitro Evaluation of the Biological Activity Against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1) of Cedrus Libani A. Rich‪.‬

Abstract Cedrus libani are widely used as traditional medicine in Lebanon for treatment of different infection diseases. In the present study we reported the phytochemical composition analyzed by GC-MS of wood essential oil and cones and leaves ethanol extracts. The main components of wood essential oil were himachalol (22.50%), [beta]-himachalene (21.90%), and [alpha]-himachalene (10.50%). Leaves ethanol extract was characterized by a high content of germacrene D (29.40%). The same extract obtained from cones essentially contained [alpha]-pinene (51.0%) and [beta]-myrcene (13.0%). Moreover, we investigated extracts, essential oil, and identified compounds for their in vitro antiviral activities against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay in Vero cells. Cones and leaves ethanol extracts exhibited an interesting activity with [IC.sub.50] of 0.50 and 0.66 mg/ml, respectively, at non-cytotoxic concentration. A comparable activity was found when essential oil was tested ([IC.sub.50] of 0.44 mg/ml).