Mechanism of action
The antibacterial effect of chlorhexidine is caused by its non-specific binding to phospholipids of bacterial cell membranes. It inhibits dehydrogenase and ATPase activity inside bacterial cell membranes and breaks the permeability of the membrane for potassium ions, nucleotides and amino acids. Chlorhexidine has bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects, especially on gram-positive bacteria and Candida albicans, to a lesser extent - on gram-negative bacteria. High sensitivity to the drug was noted in Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus anginosus, Moraxella catarrhalis, Hemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, Escherichia coli, Selenomonas, anaerobic bacteria and Candida albicans. Streptococcus sanguis, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella and. Veillonella species demonstrate less sensitivity.
The antibacterial effect of chlorhexidine depends on the concentration. The drug has a bacteriostatic effect at a low concentration (less than 20 mg / l) and bactericidal effect at higher concentrations.
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a necessary cofactor of many metabolic reactions, an important antioxidant in the aqueous environment of the human body, promotes the removal of free radicals, supports the redox balance in the body.
Ascorbic acid is involved in the synthesis of carnitine, bile acids and steroid hormones, inhibits the reactions of peroxidation with free radicals and singlet oxygen. It takes part in the formation of collagen and other connective tissue proteins, providing regeneration and integrity of the bone and promoting the healing of wounds and burns. Ascorbic acid is necessary for intracellular reactions associated with the conversion of folic acid into folinic, the transformation of aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine) involved in the metabolism of adrenaline, facilitates the removal of free radicals that are formed as a result of activation of neutrophils and neutralization of peroxide anions produced by macrophages. Ascorbic acid takes part in reducing the concentration of unbound iron, increasing its utilization and use for the synthesis of hemoglobin.