title: Spermicidal and antiviral properties of cholic acid: contraceptive efficacy of a new vaginal sponge (Protectaid) containing sodium cholate.
abstract: Cholic acid (sodium cholate) exhibits a strong spermicidal and antiviral [anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1] activity. The same effects are observed for F-5 Gel, the active mixture of a new contraceptive sponge (Protectaid), which contains sodium cholate in association with low concentrations (0.5%) of nonoxynol-9 and benzalkonium chloride. Both cholic acid and the F-5 Gel exert a dose-dependent, in-vitro inhibitory effect (i) on the activity of HIV-1 associated reverse transcriptase in an acellular system and (ii) on the potential of HIV-1 efficiently to infect human lymphocytes. During 12 months use, the contraceptive efficacy of the 'Protectaid' sponge was 100% in 20 young women who had chosen this method for reasons of both contraception and anti-sexually transmitted disease. No side-effects were recorded throughout this period. Cervical cultures at 6-month intervals showed the presence of Mycoplasma hominis and Candida albicans in one or two cases. The combined spermicidal and anti-HIV properties of cholic acid reported in this paper and used in the 'Protectaid' sponge offer a new and modern protective method of contraception.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Bicêtre, (INSERM), Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Psychoyos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Georgoulias
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gravanis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019826:Cholic Acid; D002793:Cholic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003274:Contraceptive Devices, Female; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000187:drug effects; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000517:prevention & control; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D002793:Cholic Acids; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D005782:Gels; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D019826:Cholic Acid