Cetylpyridinium Chloride-Containing Mouthwashes Show Virucidal Activity against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 15; no. 7; p. 1433
• Main Authors: Riveira-Muñoz, Eva, Garcia-Vidal, Edurne, Bañó-Polo, Manuel, León, Rubén, Blanc, Vanessa, Clotet, Bonaventura, Ballana, Ester
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 25.06.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: active ingredients; Antiseptics; Antiviral activity; Antiviral drugs; antiviral properties; Brief Report; Cetylpyridinium chloride; Chlorides; commercialization; Control; Coronaviruses; cost effectiveness; CPC; Cytomegalovirus; Dental plaque; Dichloropropane; enveloped viruses; Flow cytometry; Health aspects; Herpes simplex; Herpes simplex virus; Herpes viruses; HIV; HPV; HSV; Human alphaherpesvirus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human papillomavirus; Immune system; Infections; Infectivity; Intensive care; Medical research; mouth; Mouthwashes; Oral cavity; oral infection; pathogenicity; Pharmaceutical research; Plasmids; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Surfactants; Viral infections; virus transmission; Viruses; Spain; United States > US; Madrid Spain; HSV; enveloped viruses; oral infection; CPC; HPV
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v15071433

The oral cavity is particularly susceptible to viral infections that are self-recovering in most cases. However, complications may appear in severe cases and/or immunocompromised subjects. Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC)-containing mouthwashes are able to decrease the infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by disrupting the integrity of the viral envelope. Here, we show that CPC, as the active ingredient contained in commercialized, exerts significant antiviral activity against enveloped viruses, such as HSV-1, but not against non-enveloped viruses, such as HPV. CPC-containing mouthwashes have been used as antiseptics for decades, and thus, they can represent a cost-effective measure to limit infection and spread of enveloped viruses infecting the oral cavity, aiding in reducing viral transmission.