title: Vaginal formulations of carrageenan protect mice from herpes simplex virus infection.
abstract: The observations from the present study indicate that vaginal formulations of the sulfated polysaccharide carrageenan are highly effective in protecting mice from herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. Test formulations were placed in the vaginas of progestin-treated mice prior to inoculation with HSV-2. Infection was determined by the presence of inflammation in the genital region and death. At a dose of virus that infected half of the control animals, 1% solutions of either lambda, kappa, or iota carrageenan prevented infection of almost all of the animals. Concentrations as low as 0.05% protected a large majority of the mice. At a dose of virus that infected all of the control mice, 1% solutions of carrageenans protected 85% of the inoculated mice. Other sulfated polysaccharides were less effective or showed no efficacy in preventing HSV-2 infection. These findings suggest that a vaginal formulation of carrageenan may be effective in blocking sexual transmission of HSV-2 in women.
authors.affiliation: Population Council, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Zacharopoulos
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005079:Excipients / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000821:virology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017137:Nonoxynol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013455:Sulfur; D014621:Vagina / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D005079:Excipients; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D017137:Nonoxynol; D013455:Sulfur; D002351:Carrageenan; D016264:Dextran Sulfate