The therapeutic efficacy of a xanthate compound on herpes simplex virus in skin lesions of mice and guinea-pigs.

Xanthates have recently been shown to inhibit the replication of both DNA and RNA viruses in vitro. The antiviral activity was exerted only under acidic pH conditions. Curative effects in vivo on herpes simplex virus (HSV)-induced skin lesions were only observed when the xanthate compound was administered in the form of an ointment containing acidic buffer (sodium phosphate pH 5.0). Advanced HSV-2-induced skin lesions in mice were healed by topical treatment with the xanthate compound. HSV-1-induced lesions on skin of guinea-pigs were cured within 2 days even when the treatment was initiated as late as 4 days after infection. Both HSV-1 DNA synthesis and virus production in the skin of guinea-pigs were also shown to be inhibited after treatment with the xanthate compound.