Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic virus with DNA, it causes orofacial diseases in humans. Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) primarily affects the anogenital region. Docosanol is an antiviral used as a topical cream to treat recurrent herpes simplex labialis episodes (episodes of cold sores or fever blisters). This saturated aliphatic alcohol molecule exhibits antiviral activity against some lipid-enveloped viruses. It speeds the healing of cold sores or/and fever blisters on the face and lips. The mechanism of action is to inhibit the fusion between the host cell plasma membrane and the HSV envelope. This drug prevents viral entry and subsequent viral replication. In this way, docosanol does not act directly on the virus; as such, it is unlikely it will produce drug-resistant mutants of the virus Docosanol enters the cell and is oxidized as n-docosanoic acid. This last molecule can incorporate itself in ether lipids. When the n-docosanoic acid gets incorporated in the formation of the envelope glycoprotein GP350, the upcoming viruses will not attach to the host B-lymphocyte cell, then it will not enter the cell.

Docosanol Pathway References