Introduction:
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a weak acid with potent antimicrobial and oxidizing properties. It has been widely used in various fields, including healthcare, water treatment, and the food industry. HOCl has demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antiviral activity against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This paper aims to review the broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antiviral properties of HOCl, supported by relevant scientific research papers.
Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Properties of HOCl:
HOCl has been shown to be effective against a wide range of microorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and spores (1). The antimicrobial activity of HOCl is attributed to its ability to disrupt microbial membranes, oxidize cellular components, and interfere with metabolic processes (2).
1. Bacteria: HOCl has demonstrated rapid and effective bactericidal activity against various bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Listeria monocytogenes (3, 4).
2. Fungi: HOCl has been shown to be effective against fungi, including Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (5, 6).
3. Spores: HOCl has demonstrated sporicidal activity against various spores, including Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium difficile (7).
Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Properties of HOCl:
HOCl has also been shown to be effective against various viruses, including enveloped and non-enveloped viruses (8). The antiviral activity of HOCl is attributed to its ability to disrupt viral membranes, oxidize viral components, and interfere with viral replication (9).
1. Enveloped viruses: HOCl has demonstrated rapid and effective virucidal activity against various enveloped viruses, including influenza A virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 (10, 11, 12).
2. Non-enveloped viruses: HOCl has been shown to be effective against non-enveloped viruses, including norovirus and adenovirus (13, 14).
Conclusion:
HOCl is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antiviral agent with potent activity against a wide range of microorganisms. Its ability to disrupt microbial and viral membranes, oxidize cellular and viral components, and interfere with metabolic and replication processes make it a valuable compound in various fields. Further research on HOCl may lead to the development of new and improved applications in healthcare, water treatment, and the food industry.
References:
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