A study of the clinical activity of a gel combining monocaprin and doxycycline: a
novel treatment for herpes labialis.
Author(s): Skulason S, Holbrook WP, Thormar H, Gunnarsson GB, Kristmundsdottir T.
Affiliation(s): Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
skulis@hi.is
Publication date & source: 2012, J Oral Pathol Med. , 41(1):61-7
BACKGROUND: Current treatment of herpes labialis is usually with topical
antiviral drugs and early drug administration is required for effectiveness.
Monocaprin, a 1-monoglyceride of capric acid, has high microbicidal activity in
vitro and efficiently inactivates herpes simplex virus. Tetracyclines are
inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases that are part of the inflammatory
response and contribute to the breakdown of tissue in ulcers. The study objective
was to investigate the antiviral and wound-healing effect of a hydrogel
containing either monocaprin or a combination of monocaprin and a low dose of
doxycycline in vivo against herpes labialis.
METHODS: Subjects were divided into two groups: (i) with prodromal symptoms of
herpes labialis; (ii) with a vesicle. Both groups applied the hydrogel five times
a day for five days. Test formulations were: (i) hydrogel containing monocaprin
and doxycycline (MCD), (ii) hydrogel containing only monocaprin and (iii) placebo
hydrogel. Formulations were distributed randomly to subjects within each group.
Subjects recorded treatment results in a 6-day diary and a 7-day follow-up diary.
RESULTS: For the MCD group the mean time to healing was 5.5 days (prodromal) and
5.3 days (vesicles/ulceration) or significantly shorter than for the placebo
groups (7.25 and 7.5 days respectively; P < 0.05). Pain relief was significantly
more with MCD (combining both the prodromal and vesicle groups) than with the
monocaprin and placebo groups (P = 0.0114).
CONCLUSION: Combining monocaprin with low-dose doxycycline offers an effective
treatment for herpes labialiss, significantly reducing time to healing and pain
compared with the placebo and monocaprin alone.
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