N-chlorotaurine, an essential weak oxidant produced by stimulated huma
n leukocytes, is known to have bactericidal, fungicidal and vermicidal
properties. This study for the first time demonstrates its virucidal
activity. By viral suspension tests at incubation times between 5 and
60 min, virus liters of both Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 were re
duced about 1.3-2.9 log(10) and 2.8-4.2 log(10) by 0.1 and 1% (5.5 and
55 mM) N-chlorotaurine, respectively. Virus titer reduction of adenov
irus type 5 between 15 and 60 min was 0.5-2.0 and 0.6-4.0 log(10), res
pectively, by the same concentrations of N-chlorotaurine. These Ending
s support a contribution of N-chlorotaurine in destruction of pathogen
s during inflammatory reactions and also the possibility of its applic
ation as an antiviral agent in human medicine. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien
ce B.V. All rights reserved.