pathogens Article Evaluation of Essential Oils and Extracts of Rose Geranium and Rose Petals as Natural Preservatives in Terms of Toxicity, Antimicrobial, and Antiviral Activity Chrysa Androutsopoulou 1, Spyridoula D. Christopoulou 2, Panagiotis Hahalis 3, Chrysoula Kotsalou 1, Fotini N. Lamari 2 and Apostolos Vantarakis 1,* 1 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
[email protected] (C.A.);
[email protected] (C.K.) 2 Laboratory of Pharmacognosy & Chemistry of Natural Products, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
[email protected] (S.D.C.);
[email protected] (F.N.L.) 3 Tentoura Castro-G.P. Hahalis Distillery, 26225 Patras, Greece;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected] Abstract: Essential oils (EOs) and extracts of rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) and petals of rose (Rosa damascena) have been fully characterized in terms of composition, safety, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. They were analyzed against Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, and Adenovirus 35. Their toxicity and life span were also determined. EO of P. graveolens (5%) did not retain any antibacterial activity (whereas at Citation: Androutsopoulou, C.; 100% it was greatly effective against E. coli), had antifungal activity against A. niger, and significant Christopoulou, S.D.; Hahalis, P.; antiviral activity. Rose geranium extract (dilutions 25−90%) (v/v) had antifungal and antibacterial Kotsalou, C.; Lamari, F.N.; Vantarakis, activity, especially against E. coli, and dose-dependent antiviral activity. Rose petals EO (5%) retains A. Evaluation of Essential Oils and low inhibitory activity against S. aureus and S. Typhimurium growth (about 20−30%), antifungal Extracts of Rose Geranium and Rose activity, and antiviral activity for medium to low virus concentrations.