Antiviral compositions and methods

Abstract

In general, embodiments of the present invention provide antiviral essential oil compositions, and methods of making and using the same. Essential oil compositions can include one or more essential oils, such as thyme essential oil, oregano essential oil, and/or cinnamon essential, optionally in combination with one or more emulsifiers. Essential oil compositions can be in the form of an emulsion and have droplet sizes less than about 25 microns. The use of these compositions in organisms and systems provides beneficial antiviral effects, among others.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making an essential oil composition, comprising:
 agitating one or more liquid emulsifiers, wherein at least one of the liquid emulsifiers is larch arabinogalactan; and   contacting the one or more liquid emulsifiers with one or more essential oils to form an emulsion, wherein the average particle size of the one or more essential oils in the emulsion is about 25 microns or less.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more liquid emulsifiers further include at least one of tannic acid, polydextrose, chitin, psyllium, methyl-cellulose, hydrolyzed guar, guar gum, guar gum derivatives, soy polysaccharide, oat bran, pectin, inulin, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), xanthan gum, alginate, chemically modified cellulosic, Acacia, gum Arabic, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the essential oils is a natural essential oil or synthetic essential oil. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the essential oils is from the Lamiaceae family or Lauraceae family. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the essential oils is from  Origanum  genus,  Thymus  genus,  Cinnamomum  genus,  Lavandula  genus,  Mentha  genus,  Rosmarinus  genus,  Salvia  genus,  Monarda  genus,  Liteas  genus,  Pimenta  genus,  Syzygium  genus,  Laurus  genus,  Umbellularia  genus,  Cymbopogon  genus,  Rosmarinus  genus,  Pimpinella  genus,  Zingiber  genus,  Citrus  genus,  Eucalyptus  genus,  Melaleuca  genus,  Gaultheria  genus,  Cannabis  genus,  Citrus  genus,  Nigella  genus,  Trachyspermum  genus, or  Rosa  genus. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more essential oils are selected from oregano essential oil, thyme essential oil, cinnamon essential oil, lavender essential oils, Mexican bay leaf essential oils, West Indian bay tree essential oils, Indonesian bay leaf essential oils, bay laurel essential oils, California bay laurel essential oils, lemon grass essential oils, spearmint essential oils, peppermint essential oils, rosemary essential oils, sage essential oils, anise essential oils, ginger essential oils, bergamot essential oils, eucalyptus essential oils, melaleuca essential oils, cannabis essential oils, marjoram essential oils, orange essential oils, rose essential oils, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the essential oils includes one or more of the following compounds: cinnamaldehyde, geraniol, para-cymene, limonene, sabinene, alpha-pinene, gamma-terpinene, citronellal, thymol, carvacrol, carvone, borneol, cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, isoeugenol, vanillin, safrole, allicin, allyl isothiocyanate, C 10 H 32 , C 15 H 24 , C 20 H 34 , C 30 H 40 , linalool, alpha-terpineol, 1,8-cineole, beta-caryophellene, limonene, delta-3-carene, beta-myrcene, linalyl acetate, cinnamyl acetate, eugenol acetate, beta-pinene, terpinen-4-ol, alpha-caryophyllene, sabinene, camphene, phenylpropanoid, methyl eugenol, chavicol, methyl chavicol, alpha phellandrene, safrole, cinnamyl acetate, allicin, and allyl isothiocyanate. 
     
     
         8 . A method of making an essential oil composition, comprising:
 agitating one or more liquid emulsifiers, wherein at least one of the liquid emulsifiers is a tannin compound; and   contacting the one or more liquid emulsifiers with one or more essential oils to form an emulsion, wherein the average particle size of the one or more essential oils in the emulsion is about 25 microns or less.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tannin compound is selected from tannic acid, quercitannic acid, gallotannic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more liquid emulsifiers further include at least one of larch arabinogalactan, polydextrose, chitin, psyllium, methyl-cellulose, hydrolyzed guar, guar gum, guar gum derivatives, soy polysaccharide, oat bran, pectin, inulin, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), xanthan gum, alginate, chemically modified cellulosic, Acacia, gum Arabic, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the essential oils is a natural essential oil or synthetic essential oil. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the essential oils is from the Lamiaceae family or Lauraceae family. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the essential oils is from  Origanum  genus,  Thymus  genus,  Cinnamomum  genus,  Lavandula  genus,  Mentha  genus,  Rosmarinus  genus,  Salvia  genus,  Monarda  genus,  Liteas  genus,  Pimenta  genus,  Syzygium  genus,  Laurus  genus,  Umbellularia  genus,  Cymbopogon  genus,  Rosmarinus  genus,  Pimpinella  genus,  Zingiber  genus,  Citrus  genus,  Eucalyptus  genus,  Melaleuca  genus,  Gaultheria  genus,  Cannabis  genus,  Citrus  genus, or  Rosa  genus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more essential oils are selected from oregano essential oil, thyme essential oil, cinnamon essential oil, lavender essential oils, Mexican bay leaf essential oils, West Indian bay tree essential oils, Indonesian bay leaf essential oils, bay laurel essential oils, California bay laurel essential oils, lemon grass essential oils, spearmint essential oils, peppermint essential oils, rosemary essential oils, sage essential oils, anise essential oils, ginger essential oils, bergamot essential oils, eucalyptus essential oils, melaleuca essential oils, cannabis essential oils, marjoram essential oils, orange essential oils, rose essential oils, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the essential oils includes one or more of the following compounds: cinnamaldehyde, geraniol, para-cymene, limonene, sabinene, alpha-pinene, gamma-terpinene, citronellal, thymol, carvacrol, carvone, borneol, cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, isoeugenol, vanillin, safrole, allicin, allyl isothiocyanate, C 10 H 32 , C 15 H 24 , C 20 H 34 , C 30 H 40 , linalool, alpha-terpineol, 1,8-cineole, beta-caryophellene, limonene, delta-3-carene, beta-myrcene, linalyl acetate, cinnamyl acetate, eugenol acetate, beta-pinene, terpinen-4-ol, alpha-caryophyllene, sabinene, camphene, phenylpropanoid, methyl eugenol, chavicol, methyl chavicol, alpha phellandrene, safrole, cinnamyl acetate, allicin, and allyl isothiocyanate. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making an essential oil composition, comprising:
 agitating one or more liquid emulsifiers;   contacting the one or more liquid emulsifiers with one or more essential oils to form an emulsion; and   agitating the emulsion until a temperature of the emulsion reaches about the volatilization temperature or less;   wherein the average particle size of the one or more essential oils in the emulsion is about 25 microns or less.