Pharmacological effect of agarwood essential oil (AEO) extract as anti-viral agent against hepatitis B virus

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current treatments, including pegylated interferons and nucleos(t)ide analogs, have limited efficacy, highlighting the need for novel antivirals. Agarwood (Gaharu), the resinous heartwood of Aquilariaspecies, has long been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for inflammatory conditions, though evidence for antiviral use remains scarce. This study explored the antiviral potential of agarwood essential oils against HBV by evaluating their effects on extracellular HBV DNA production in Hep38.7-Tet cells and HBV entry inHepG2-NTCP cells. Aquilaria malaccensis showed the strongest anti-HBV activity with an IC50 of 55.6 μg/mL and CC50 of 520.4 μg/mL (selectivity index: 9.4). At 100 μg/mL, Aquilaria malaccensis, A. crassna, and A. rostrata reduced HBsAg levels to 67.4%, 55.1%, and 62.5%, respectively. These findings support Aquilaria malaccensis essential oil as a promising candidate for HBV drug development.