The study favors the significance of using CDCM on day 1 (four hours following the initial dose) for minimizing coronavirus viral load in the saliva. For the long-term effect (seven days), CDMC seems to offer a little benefit than placebo in decreasing SARS-CoV-2 load in saliva.

A randomized controlled study aimed to investigate whether a mouthwash with β-cyclodextrin–citrox mouthwash (CDCM) can minimize the viral load in the saliva.

This multicentre, double-blind study enrolled RT-PCR-positive people (age 18-85 years) having asymptomatic to mild symptoms of coronavirus disease for <8 days. A total of 176 eligible adults were randomized to either the CDCM group or placebo group.

For seven days, 3 rinses daily were done. On the first day,  saliva sampling was carried out at 09.00 (T1), 13.00 (T2) and 18.00 (T3). On the following six days, 1 sample was taken at 15.00. For viral detection, quantitative RT-PCR was utilized.

As per intention-to-treat assessment, CDCM showed superior efficacy over the course of 1 day when compared to placebo four hours following the initial dose, with a median percentage (log₁₀copies/mL) reduction T1-T2 of -12.58%. In comparison with placebo (3.31 log₁₀copies/mL), the low median value for the CDCM (3.08 log₁₀copies/mL) was maintained by the 2^nd  dose.

On the seventh day, a greater median percentage (log₁₀copies/mL) decline in salivary SARS-CoV-2 load was reported in CDCM group vs. placebo group, as shown in Table 1:

These outcomes were verified by the per-protocol assessment.

In people having mild or asymptomatic coronavirus disease, CDCM (4 hours after the initial dose) exhibited a favorable effect in decreasing salivary viral load. For the long-term effect, the benefit to suggest CDMC seems to be limited, even if 3 daily rinses displayed a positive impact on decreasing the viral load in saliva seven days following the initial intake in people with high salivary SARS-CoV-2 load at the baseline.