title: The antiviral spectrum of Listerine antiseptic.
abstract: The mechanism of activity and the antiviral spectrum of Listerine antiseptic have not been examined thoroughly. We therefore tested its effect on laboratory strains of herpes simplex type 1 and type 2 (enveloped DNA viruses), influenza A virus (enveloped RNA virus), rotavirus (nonenveloped RNA virus), and adenovirus type 5 (nonenveloped DNA virus). Each virus was mixed with an equal volume of Listerine for 30 seconds to 5 minutes, and the residual infectivity of the virus was assessed. An antiviral effect was defined as greater than 95% reduction of infectivity. Exposure to Listerine for 30 seconds had an antiviral effect against herpes simplex type-1 and type-2 (96.3% and 100% reduction in infectious virus, respectively) and influenza A (100% reduction). In contrast, rotavirus-induced plaque formation was reduced by 12.2% after 30 seconds of exposure to Listerine, whereas 5 minutes of exposure to Listerine resulted in a 21.5% increase in plaque formation. Exposure of adenovirus to Listerine had a minimal effect on the cytopathocity of the virus, with a 33.4% reduction in virus levels after 5 minutes. The antiviral activity of Listerine is thus not related to the viral genome but is probably directed to the viral envelope.
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontics, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, Dental Branch, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Dennison
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Meredith
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Shillitoe
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Caffesse
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002213:Capsid / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000821:virology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D004285:Dogs; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000821:virology; D006383:Hemadsorption Inhibition Tests; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000187:drug effects; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000187:drug effects; D012459:Salicylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014709:Vero Cells / Q000821:virology; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014774:Virulence / Q000187:drug effects; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009067:Mouthwashes; D012459:Salicylates; D013729:Terpenes; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; C057473:Listerine