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Plant products provide an alternative and successful source of lead compounds for the pharmaceutical industry. The present study was aimed to evaluate, in cell-based assays, the antiviral properties of essential oils obtained from plants that commonly grow in Sardinia, Italy, against a broad spectrum of RNA/DNA viruses. The essential oils of <i>Helichrisumitalicum</i> (Roth) G. Don ssp. <i>microphyllum</i> (Willd.) Nyman, <i>Laurus nobilis</i> L., <i>Mirtuscommunis</i> L., <i>Pistacia lentiscus</i> L., <i>Salvia officinalis</i> L., <i>Saturejathymbra</i> L., <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Mill., <i>Foeniculum vulgare</i> Mill., and <i>Eucalyptus globulus</i> Labill. were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Interestingly, the essential oil of <i>Salvia officinalis</i> showed moderate activity against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), an enveloped RNA virus belonging to the <i>Flaviviridae</i> family. BVDV is responsible for several clinical manifestations in bovines, including respiratory, gastroenteric, and reproductive diseases, with a significant economic impact. With the aim to individuate the constituent of the <i>Salvia officinalis</i> responsible for the biological activity, we tested the major components of the oil: camphene, β-pinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, cis-thujone, camphor, (E)-caryophyllene, and α-humulene. Here, we describe α-humulene as an active component that is non-cytotoxic and active against BVDV (EC₅₀ = 36 µM). Its antiviral effects were evaluated using virucidal cytopathic effect inhibition and viral yield reduction assays. This is the first scientific report showing the anti BVDV effects of <i>Salvia officinalis</i> essential oil and α-humulene as the main active component.