Antiviral and Antibacterial Actions of Monolaurin and Lauric Acid

by Marcus Ettinger | Aug 16, 2010 | Biofilm, Gastritis, H. pylori, Infection, Shingles | 55
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I hope my write-up on Monolaurin / Lauricidin / Lauric Acid is informative and

helpful. If you have questions about this or a particular condition or would like
information on how to become a distance client – Distance Client Program revised
08-22-17, please feel free to contact my office. Advanced Healing Center of Orange
County, the practice of Dr. Marcus Ettinger. Phone: 714-639-4360, Mail: 630 South
Glassell Street #103. Orange, CA 92866.

What is Monolaurin and Lauric Acid?

Lauric acid is a 12-carbon medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) found naturally in human
breast milk (6.2% of total fat) and coconut oil (47.5% by weight). Lauric acid was
originally discovered when microbiologists studied human breast milk to determine
the protective (antiviral and antibacterial) substances which protected infants from
microbial infections. Other fatty acids were also found to have antimicrobial actions
but lauric acid was found to be the most active. Lauric acid is able to disrupt the cell
membrane of gram-positive bacteria by physicochemical (physical and chemical)
processes. Once inside the cell, it can interfere with bacterial cell signal transduction
and gene transcription processes. Its activity is generally better at low pH and is
diminished by Mg2+ and Ca2+
A chemical reaction, known as esterification¹, combines lauric acid and glycerol to
yield an amazing compound known as monolaurin (glycerol monolaurate). This
reaction can occur within our body and in a laboratory. Monolaurin acts as a
surfactant², which possesses an even greater antiviral and antibacterial activity than
its precursor, lauric acid. Monolaurin, when given orally, at therapeutic doses
between 2,500 – 9,000 mg/day is generally well tolerated, with loose bowels as the
only negative concern. Monolaurin has been extensively studied at medical
research centers, including the Center for Disease Control (CDC), because of
its high antimicrobial (antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-yeast, and
antiprotozoal) activity. These studies have provided information about the antiviral
and antibacterial mechanisms of monolaurin. Monolaurin was found to be effective
against certain Lipid Coated Bacteria (LCBs) and Lipid Coated Viruses (LCVs) –
enveloped DNA and RNA viruses.
¹Esterification: Esterification is the generic term for the chemical reaction in which
two reactants (typically an alcohol and an acid) form an ester as the reaction
product. Esters are common in organic chemistry and biological materials and often
have a characteristic pleasant, fruity odor. This leads to their extensive use in the
fragrance and flavor industry
²Surfactant: Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid,
allowing easier spreading, and lowering of the interfacial tension between two
liquids, or between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting
agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.

Lipid-Coated Virus

HIV-1, Influenza virus, paramyxoviruses, rubeola virus, bronchitis virus, and the
herpes family of viruses (Epstein-Barr (EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), zoster
(Chickenpox), varicella-zoster (shingles) and herpes type I and II). Sadly, monolaurin
had no effect on diseases caused by non-enveloped viruses such as the polio virus,
coxsackie virus, encephalomyocarditis virus, rhinovirus, and rotaviruses.

There is a link between herpes (herpes virus 1-6 ) and Lyme disease.
Read more about it here – Lyme Disease, Herpes Virus Connection
 Lipid-Coated Bacteria

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae.

The antiviral and antibacterial action attributed to monolaurin are that of making
soluble the fats in the protective envelope, causing the disintegration of the
microbial membrane. This process works more efficiently when combined with metal
chelating agents, such as EDTA and lactoferrin, and mucolytics, like NAC and
guaifenesin. Recent publications have shown that monolaurin and lauric acid inhibit
the replication of viruses by interrupting the communication and binding of the virus
to host cells and thus preventing the uncoating of viruses necessary for replication
and infection. Other studies have shown that monolaurin is able to remove all
measurable infectivity by directly disintegrating the protective bacterial and viral
lipid envelope. Binding of monolaurin to the viral envelope also makes the virus
more susceptible to degradation by host defenses, heat, or ultraviolet light. (Projan
et al 1994, Hornung et al 1994, Witcher et al, 1993)
Monolaurin and Lauricidin were one of the first components of my biofilm protocol
when I developed it, for the natural treatment of H. pylori, back in 2007. Since then I
have found it to be an indispensable supplement in my practice.
Additional Reading:
1. The Properties of Lauric Acid and Their Significance in Coconut Oil
2. A Review of Monolaurin and Lauric Acid – Natural Virucidal and Bactericidal Agents.
3. Microorganisms Inactivated by Monolaurin

Monolaurin, Lauricidin and Lauric Acid In The News

Mol Cell Biochem. 2005 Apr;272(1-2):29-34
Minimum inhibitory concentrations of herbal essential oils and monolaurin for
gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria

Preuss H.G., et. al., Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University
Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA. preusshg@georgetown.edu
New, safe antimicrobial agents are needed to prevent and overcome severe
bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Based on our previous experience and that of
others, we postulated that herbal essential oils, such as those of origanum,
and monolaurin offer such possibilities. We examined in vitro the cidal
(def. killing, as in bactericidal) and/or static effects of oil of oregano, several other
essential oils, and monolaurin on Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus anthracis Sterne,
Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, and Mycobacterium
terrae. Origanum (oregano) proved cidal to all tested organisms with the exception
of B. anthracis Sterne in which it was static. Monolaurin was cidal to S. aureus and M.
terrae but not to E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Unlike the other two gram-negative
organisms, H. pylori were extremely sensitive to monolaurin. Similar to origanum,
monolaurin was static to B. anthracis Sterne. Because of their longstanding safety
record, origanum and/or monolaurin, alone or combined with antibiotics, might
prove useful in the prevention and treatment of severe bacterial infections,
especially those that are difficult to treat and/or are antibiotic resistant (also
see biofilm, as a source of antibiotic resistance).
Note: Monolaurin has been shown to inactive many forms of bacteria and virus’ that
are protected by an outer lipid membrane, known as an envelope (H. pylori cell
envelope). The mechanism is due to monolaurin’s ability aid in the disintegration of
this lipid membran