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Anti-HIV effect of gramicidin in vitro: potential for spermicide use
A S Bourinbaiar1, K Krasinski, W Borkowsky
1Department of Biochemistry, New York University Medical Center, New York 10016.
Life Sciences
|January 1, 1994
Abstract:
Gramicidin, cation channel forming ionophore with antibacterial properties, was studied in vitro for inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of MT-4 lymphocytes. Effective antiviral concentrations required for complete HIV inactivation were three orders of magnitude lower than 10 micrograms/ml cytotoxic dose. Gramicidin, routinely used as a contraceptive agent, should be considered for clinical application as a spermicide with antiviral activity.