IN VITROANTI-VIRAL ACTIVITY OF HEXETIDINE (BACTIDOL®) ORAL MOUTHWASH AGAINST HUMAN CORONAVIRUS OC43 AND INFLUENZA A (H1N1) VIRUS

ABSTRACT Mouthwashes are used to decrease oral cavity microbial load due to their antiseptic properties. Hexetidine is a broad-spectrum antiseptic used for minor infections of mucous membranes, and in particular as a 0.1% mouthwash for local infections and oral hygiene. This study determined the anti-viral activity of the mouthwash hexetidine (Bactidol ® ), specifically in reducing viral concentration of Human Coronavirus OC43 (HCoV OC43; ATCC ® VR-1558™) and Influenza A virus (IAV H1N1; clinical strain) in Vero 6 and MDCK cell cultures respectively, using in-vitro suspension assay (ASTM E-1052-11) designed to evaluate virucidal property of microbicides like hexetidine. Study results indicated that hexetidine was able to reduce infectivity of HCoV OC43 and IAV H1N1 at 25%, 50% and 100% concentrations by more than 80% at 15- and 30-seconds exposure times. One hundred percent (100%) concentration of hexetidine was found to be cytotoxic to MDCK cell line used for IAV H1N1 propagation. Hexetidine-treated cell lines achieved >80% survival rate for MDCK and Vero E6 at a contact time of 15 seconds and 30 seconds (which are the approximate times of gargling with hexetidine mouthwash). The anti-viral activity of hexetidine mouthwash against other more virulent or pathogenic coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2 can be explored further.