Comparative in vitro study of contraceptive agents with anti-HIV activity: Gramicidin, nonoxynol-9, and gossypol
Bourinbaiar, A.S.; Lee-Huang, S.
Contraception 49(2): 131-137
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-7824 PMID: 7511493 DOI: 10.1016/0010-7824(94)90088-4Document Number: 285583
At the New York University Medical Center, researchers used an antiviral assay, p24 ELISA, and cytoxicity assays to compare the antiviral activity of the newly-discovered anti-HIV compound gramicidin with established spermicides that have demonstrated antiviral activity. A 10 ng/ml of gramicidin completely inhibited productive HIV infection in MT-4 lymphocytes, while a 1000-fold higher dose of nonoxynol-9 and gossypol (10 mcg/ml) was needed to achieve the same effect. A possible mechanism is impaired permeability for cations, resulting in inhibition of virus-induced fusion. The study did not try to determine the biochemical mode of gramicidin action, however. Gramicidin is used in the former USSR as an active component of spermicidal gels and foams and as a topical, non-irritating antibiotic often used to treat ocular infections. The results of this in vitro study call for more in vitro studies to determine the biochemical mechanism of gramicidin action and its clinical potential as a vaginal spermicide with antiviral activity.