Monolaurin is monoacylglycerol which is a bioactive lipid since it can affect the human
biological systems. This review discusses the bioactive properties of monolaurin,
especially its role as an antibacterial, immune system enhancement, and its ability as an
antiviral so that it has the potential to fight against various viral attacks. Monolaurin can
act as an antibacterial in inhibiting the growth of several pathogenic bacteria, especially
gram-positive bacteria. Monolaurin is known to be able to enhance the immune system
through modulation of various immune systems, controlling pro-inflammatory cytokines,
activating and attracting leukocytes to the site of infection. Monolaurin can also act as an
antiviral, especially against enveloped viruses, such as Maedi-visna virus, vesicular
stomatitis, herpes simplex-1, measles, HIV, cytomegalovirus, influenza, and corona.
Monolaurin inhibits the virus through the mechanism of the disintegration of the viral
membrane, prevents binding of the viral protein to the host-cell membrane, inhibits the
process of assembling the viral RNA, and the process of virus maturation in the
replication cycle. Therefore monolaurin has the potential for human consumption to boost
the immune system and ward off various virus attacks, including severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the cause of COVID-19 which became
a pandemic in the world.