Potential use of monocaprin as a denture disinfectant

Monocaprin is a 1-monoglyceride of capric acid that has antimicrobial activity against enveloped viruses; certain bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans. Objective:Solutions containing monocaprin were formulated and tested in vitro against a number of microorganisms both species found in the oral cavity and common pathogenic species The antimicrobial activity of monocaprin was tested with strains growing on a surface as well as in the planktonic phase. The study concluded with a small clinical investigation. Methods:Microorganisms tested were; Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, Lactobacillus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Echerichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Two sets of dilutions were prepared for each test strain, one to be inoculated with the micro-organism growing in the planktonic phase and the other with the same strain growing on a filter paper disk. Control solutions were also prepared to find out if any of the excipients were affecting the microbicidal effect of monocaprin. Results:Test strains growing on the filter paper surface were less sensitive to monocaprin than the same strain growing in its planktonic phase. C. albicans was the micro-organism which was most sensitive to monocaprin but Strept. mutans also showed appreciable sensitivity. The indication that monocaprin may have a potential as a topical agent against Candida was tested in an open study of denture disinfection in 32 patients attending a geriatric day care centre. Conclusion:A significant, but short-term, reduction in counts of Candida on the fitting surface of full dentures was observed. This suggests that monocaprin may be a useful denture disinfectant.