Antiviral effect of cetylpyridinium chloride in mouthwash on SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 14050 - 8
• Main Authors: Takeda, Ryo, Sawa, Hirofumi, Sasaki, Michihito, Orba, Yasuko, Maishi, Nako, Tsumita, Takuya, Ushijima, Natsumi, Hida, Yasuhiro, Sano, Hidehiko, Kitagawa, Yoshimasa, Hida, Kyoko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 18.08.2022; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/326/596; 692/699/255; Ammonium; Antiviral drugs; Asymptomatic; Cetylpyridinium chloride; Chloride; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Dentistry; Disease transmission; Drug dosages; Humanities and Social Sciences; Infections; Infectivity; Medicine; Mouthwashes; multidisciplinary; Saliva; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Sucrose; Transmission electron microscopy; Viruses; Zoonoses
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18367-6

Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), a quaternary ammonium compound, which is present in mouthwash, is effective against bacteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses. This study was conducted to explore the antiviral effect of CPC on SARS-CoV-2. There are few reports on the effect of CPC against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 at low concentrations such as 0.001%–0.005% (10–50 µg/mL). Interestingly, we found that low concentrations of CPC suppressed the infectivity of human isolated SARS-CoV-2 strains (Wuhan, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma) even in saliva. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CPC shows anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects without disrupting the virus envelope, using sucrose density analysis and electron microscopic examination. In conclusion, this study provided experimental evidence that CPC may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection even at lower concentrations.