Monolaurin

Other Names: Distilled Monoglyceride, Glycerin Monolaurate, Glycerol Monolaurate, Lauricidin, Lauric Acid Monoglyceride, Monoglycéride Distillé, Monolaurine.
Monolaurin is a chemical made from Lauric Acid, which is found in Coconut milk and breast milk.

Health Benefits and uses of Monolaurin are

Preliminary research suggests monolaurin might be able to fight bacteria and viruses in test tubes. It is not known if monolaurin has these effects when used by people.

• for preventing and treating colds (the common cold), flu (influenza), swine flu, herpes, shingles, and other infections.
• It is also used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
• to boost the immune system.
• may help protect against menstrual toxic shock syndrome. (A condition linked to tampon use, menstrual toxic shock syndrome results from exposure to a toxin produced by certain types of Staphylococcus bacteria.) In an experiment involving 225 women, the authors of the study determined that tampons containing monolaurin helped decrease production of the toxin that causes menstrual toxic shock syndrome.
• may help shield children from skin conditions caused by bacteria.

References

• Carpo BG, Verallo-Rowell VM, Kabara J. "Novel antibacterial activity of monolaurin compared with conventional antibiotics against organisms from skin infections: an in vitro study." J Drugs Dermatol. 2007 Oct;6(10):991-8.
• Holland KT, Taylor D, Farrell AM. "The effect of glycerol monolaurate on growth of, and production of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 and lipase by, Staphylococcus aureus." J Antimicrob Chemother. 1994 Jan;33(1):41-55.
• Strandberg KL, Peterson ML, Schaefers MM, Case LC, Pack MC, Chase DJ, Schlievert PM. "Reduction in Staphylococcus aureus growth and exotoxin production and in vaginal interleukin 8 levels due to glycerol monolaurate in tampons." Clin Infect Dis. 2009 Dec 1;49(11):1711-7.