Description
Glycerol monolaureate is a surfactant and emulsifier that exhibits antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activities. This compound can be found in coconut oil; it displays antimicrobial benefit against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria, including species of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Gardnerella, Candida, and Haemophilus. In clinical settings, glycerol monolaureate decreases production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-8 and TNF-α, decreasing Staphylococcus exotoxin production and preventing toxic shock syndrome. In primates, this compound inhibits mucosal transmission of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) through the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine and mucosal signaling.
References
Schlievert PM, Peterson ML. Glycerol monolaurate antibacterial activity in broth and biofilm cultures. PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e40350. PMID: 22808139.
Strandberg KL, Peterson ML, Lin YC, et al. Glycerol monolaurate inhibits Candida and Gardnerella vaginalis in vitro and in vivo but not Lactobacillus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2010 Feb;54(2):597-601. PMID: 20008774.
Strandberg KL, Peterson ML, Schaefers MM, et al. Reduction in Staphylococcus aureus growth and exotoxin production and in vaginal interleukin 8 levels due to glycerol monolaurate in tampons. Clin Infect Dis. 2009 Dec 1;49(11):1711-7. PMID: 19863450.
Lin YC, Schlievert PM, Anderson MJ, et al. Glycerol monolaurate and dodecylglycerol effects on Staphylococcus aureus and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 in vitro and in vivo. PLoS One. 2009 Oct 19;4(10):e7499. PMID: 19838303.
Li Q, Estes JD, Schlievert PM, et al. Glycerol monolaurate prevents mucosal SIV transmission. Nature. 2009 Apr 23;458(7241):1034-8. PMID: 19262509.
