Acriflavine is a topical antiseptic that rose to prominence in World War I. It’s been making headlines in recent weeks for its purported ability to cure the common cold.
Acriflavine is a topical antiseptic. In World War I, it was applied to wounded soldiers to avoid infections. The chemical compound is derived from acridine, a product of coal tar. It’s a type of dye, and comes in the form of an orange or brown powder.
The topical antiseptic dates all the way back to 1912, when it was discovered by a German medical researcher. Throughout the First World War, it was used as a way to avoid sleeping sickness (an infectious disease caused by parasites).
It was also used on the field up to World War II as a kind of “cure all”, treating everything from open wounds and bladder infections to gonorrhea.
What Is Acriflavine?
So why exactly are people excited about Acriflavine in 2016?
Well, molecular biologists Michael Gantier and Genevieve Pepin at Melbourne’s Hudson Institute of Medical Research have fond that acriflavine has powerful effects on the common cold virus.
These researchers discovered that the antiseptic attaches to the DNA of the patient, which kickstarts the body’s immune system into action.
In studies, researchers found that acriflavine bound to bacterial DNA, which slowed the spread of bacteria and allowed the body’s immune system to gain the upper hand.
The research was published in the latest edition of Nucleic Acids Research. The Sydney Morning Herald writes that these studies “reveal the healing power of the antiseptic to be far greater than realised.”
This latest research suggests that acriflavine could have powerful neutralizing effects against not just the common cold and flu – but also other infectious diseases.
More than Just the Common Cold
This latest research focused primarily on the common cold. However, researchers believe the work could be extended to other conditions.
Acriflavine could fight the spread of viral outbreaks like SARS, Zika, and ebola, for example.
It could also be an effective treatment for antibiotic-resistant superbugs, forecast to kill 10 million people by 2015.
Researcher Dr. Gantier said, “While we have published on its impact on viruses, it is most likely that this is applicable to bacterial infections as well.”
Why Does Acriflavine Work?
The study goes into detail about how and why acriflavine works.
Researchers found that when cells were treated with acriflavine two days before exposure to the common cold, then the body’s immune system responded to the infection more frequently. The virus was also not able to replicate as quickly.
That means you could clear the infection more quickly, and that you’d feel less cold and flu symptoms.
Acriflavine could be used as a powerful preventative tool for vulnerable members of society, including the young, elderly, those with compromised immune systems, and healthcare workers.
One of the best parts about acriflavine, however, is its price:
“It is extremely cheap, which is why it is still used in poorer countries,” Dr Gantier said. “It is also easy to move around because you don't have to worry about temperature or humidity.”
Stay tuned for more exciting news about acriflavine as we continue to learn more!
Source: SMH.com.au
