Contemplating Use of Natural Dietary Supplements to Prevent/Treat Viral Infections: Oil of Oregano and Monolaurin A Timely Look At Covid-19

A decade and a half ago, one of the current authors (HGP) participated in writing a report eventually published in The Original Internist. Suffice it to say, much of that earlier material seems appropriate for what is happening now. The recent pandemic with COVID-19 has prompted a reworking of the original report with an important updating of material; largely because volatile aromatic oils and medium chain fatty acids derived from edible plants possess interesting antimicrobial properties--properties generally not recognized by the public or, for that matter, by the medical profession. The antimicrobial activity in oregano oil can be attributed in large part to its high content of phenolic constituents such as carvacrol and thymol. Laurie acid, found largely in coconut and palm kernel oil, can form monolaurin, a monoglyceride with high antimicrobial potential. Not too long ago we compared the antimicrobial efficacy of oregano oil and other essential oils as well as monolaurin in vitro by examining their effects on many different bacteria using a micro dilution method. Oregano oil, the most potent of the essential oils tested, and monolaurin both proved cidal in culture to a variety of harmful bacteria. In vivo experiments in mice show oregano oil and monolaurin, individually and combined, to be as effective as some antibiotics in combatting destructive staphylococcus organisms. Because of their major capability to destroy protective lipid envelopes around organisms, oregano oil and/or monolaurin could prove to be useful antimicrobial agents for prevention and therapy of a variety of dangerous infectious organisms--in the present case, viruses such as COVID-19. Of economic importance, prophylactic usage of these two generally regarded as safe (GPAAS) supplements provides through their mechanisms of action toward infectious agents, particularly viruses, the potential to allow faster safe return of quarantined workers during pandemic periods.
Introduction Nearly two decades ago, one of the current authors (HGP) participated in the writing of a report eventually published in The Original Internist. (1) Relevantly, much of that earlier [...]