Virucidal activity and mechanism of action of cetylpyridinium chloride against SARS-CoV-2

Nako Okamoto; Akatsuki Saito; Tamaki Okabayashi; Akihiko Komine

doi:10.1016/j.ajoms.2022.04.001

Virucidal activity and mechanism of action of cetylpyridinium chloride against SARS-CoV-2

J Oral Maxillofac Surg Med Pathol. 2022 Nov;34(6):800-804. doi: 10.1016/j.ajoms.2022.04.001. Epub 2022 Apr 15.

Authors

Nako Okamoto¹, Akatsuki Saito^{2

3}, Tamaki Okabayashi^{2

3}, Akihiko Komine¹

Affiliations

¹ R&D, Sunstar Inc., 1-35-10, Kawanishi-cho, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-1133, Japan.
² Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
³ Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.

Abstract

Objective: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the pathogen causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. Recent studies have shown the importance of the throat and salivary glands as sites of virus replication and transmission. The viral host receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), is broadly enriched in epithelial cells of the salivary glands and oral mucosae. Oral care products containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a bactericidal ingredient are known to exhibit antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. However, the exact mechanism of action remains unknown.

Methods: This study examined the antiviral activity of CPC against SARS-CoV-2 and its inhibitory effect on the interaction between the viral spike (S) protein and ACE2 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: CPC (0.05%, 0.1% and 0.3%) effectively inactivated SARS-CoV-2 within the contact times (20 and 60 s) in directions for use of oral care products in vitro. The binding ability of both the S protein and ACE2 were reduced by CPC.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that CPC inhibits the interaction between S protein and ACE2, and thus, reduces infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and suppresses viral adsorption.

Keywords: Antiviral; COVID-19; Cetylpyridinium chloride; SARS-CoV-2; Virus inactivation.