Bile salts: Natural detergents for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases

The development of new, safe, topical microbicides for intravaginal use for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases is imperative. Previous st udies have suggested that bile salts may inhibit human immunodeficiency vir us infection; however, their activities against other sexually transmitted pathogens have not been reported. To further explore the potential role of bile salts in preventing sexually transmitted diseases, we examined the in vitro activities and cytotoxicities of select bile salts against Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes simplex virus (types 1 and 2), Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a nd human immunodeficiency virus in comparison to those of nonoxynol-9 and b enzalkonium chloride using both primary cells and cell lines derived from t he human female genital tract, We found that taurolithocholic acid 3-sulfat e and a combination of glycocholic acid and taurolithocholic acid 3-sulfate showed excellent activity against all of the pathogens assayed. Moreover, taurolithocholic acid 3-sulfate alone or in combination was less cytotoxic than nonoxynol-9 and benzalkonium chloride. Thus, taurolithocholic acid 3-s ulfate alone or in combination warrants further evaluation as a candidate t opical microbicidal agent.