The common cold is caused by a large range of respiratory viruses and is the most common disease of mankind. There is a great need for a prophylactic treatment for colds. Specific antiviral treatments are only effective against one group of viruses and there is a need for a non-specific treatment that can be used against all respiratory viruses. Carrageenan is a general term used to describe a range of sulfated polysaccharides extracted from edible seaweeds. Large polyanionic molecules such as carrageenan have been shown to have antiviral activity against a wide range of viruses in vitro. The strong anionic charge of carrageenan attracts and traps viruses that have positively charged areas on their surface. The trapped viruses are then unable to infect epithelial cells. Iota-carrageenan exerts its’ antiviral activity by physical means due to its high anionic charge and it does not have any pharmacological properties and therefore does not have any toxicology or known side effects from treatment. Iota-carrageenan does not have any taste or smell and, when used as a nasal spray, does not have any adverse effects. Iota-carrageenan is an ideal prophylactic treatment for the common cold and is safe for use in children. Treatment of common cold with iota-carrageenan has to date been studied in five placebo-controlled clinical trials and these trials support both efficacy as a prophylactic treatment for colds and the safety and tolerability of iota-carrageenan.
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