Cetylpyridinium chloride is an antimicrobial agent found in some throat lozenges, gargles, or mouthwashes. In laboratory tests, he prevented the corona virus from becoming infected even in low concentrations.
Infection with Covid-19 usually occurs through aerosols via the oral and nasal cavities. This can possibly be prevented: even low concentrations of the active ingredient cetylpyridinium chloride, which is contained in some mouthwashes, had an antiviral effect on SARS-CoV-2, reports a Japanese research team in the journal “Scientific Reports”.
The team tested in cell cultures how different amounts of cetylpyridinium chloride affect a docking site that is required for the cell to be infected by SARS-CoV-2. Just ten minutes after application, small amounts of cetylpyridinium chloride inhibited the infection of four tested virus variants (the original virus as well as alpha, beta and gamma variants) – each to a similar extent. Commercially available mouthwashes with cetylpyridinium chloride performed better than the active ingredient alone. Saliva did not change the effect.
The researchers believe it is possible that the use of products containing cetylpyridinium chloride could reduce the spread of Covid-19 and, for example, be used for prevention in countries with low vaccination rates. The team has started investigating the effect of mouthwashes containing cetylpyridinium chloride on viral loads in the saliva of Covid-19 patients.
Which: DOI 10.1038/s41598-022-18367-6