Inhibitory effect of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid on the biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed at investigating the potential of using 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid against the cariogenic characteristics of Streptococcus mutans UA159. METHODS: The effects of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid on biofilm formation and acid production were evaluated; the latter are indicators of cariogenicity of S. mutans. Biofilm architecture was also analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and changes in gene expression related to biofilm formation were studied by quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Treatment with 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid at a concentration of 20 µg/ml inhibited biofilm formation by 95% in the absence of sucrose and 60% in its presence, reduced acid production by 88.8%, and significantly suppressed the gene expression of comDE, gbpB, gtfC and vicR, which are thought to be involved in the virulence of S. mutans. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid could be used as a complementary or alternative agent for preventing dental caries by interfering with the virulence properties of S. mutans without affecting the viability of the bacterial population.

Comparision of Health Behaviors, Diabetes Mellitus(DM) Management and Health-related Quality of Life(HRQoL) between DM Groups with and without Diabetic Education Experience / 農村醫學 地域保健

PURPOSE: This study was to compare health behaviors, DM management and HRQoL among Diabetic patients according to education experience. METHODS: Data were obtained from Community health Survey(CHS) of 2015. The participants were 22,937 diabetic patients who had education experience or not. Data were analyzed on complex sample anaysis using SPSS 24 program. RESULTS: The education experience group showed higher percentages of health behaviors and DM Management and higher HRQoL. The significant negative factors influencing HRQoL were Bed ridden experience, higher subjective stress, depression expereince, age, low education and positive factors were good subjective health status, walking, mod-exercise, drinking, employment, spouse, good subjective happiness. CONCLUSION: These results show that education experience is a way to help diabetic patients' health behavior, DM management, HRQoL.

Gingival absorption of α-tocopherol acetate and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid : in vitro evaluation in reconstructed gingival tissue / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: To assess the absorption of α-tocopherol acetate and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, which are used as active ingredients in toothpaste, into a reconstructed gingival tissue. METHODS: EpiGingival™ tissues were treated with a 25% slurry of toothpaste containing 2% α-tocopherol acetate and 0.3% 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, for 2 minutes. The treatment was repeated up to 6 times, with 1 hour intervals. After completion of all treatments, the active ingredients in the tissue extracts and receiver solutions were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Although α-tocopherol acetate was not detected, α-tocopherol was detected in the tissue extracts, indicating that α-tocopherol acetate was bioconverted to α-tocopherol after absorption. We could detect 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid both in the tissue extracts and in the receiver solutions, with a positive correlation to the number of treatments. CONCLUSIONS: We found that our toothpaste effectively delivered α-tocopherol acetate and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid to a reconstructed gingival tissue in vitro.

Destabilizing effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on pre-formed biofilms of Streptococcus mutans / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: In this study, the destabilizing effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on pre-formed biofilms of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) was observed. METHODS: Alamar blue assay was used to determine the toxicity of glycyrrhetinic acid on pre-formed biofilms of S. mutans. Four different concentrations (0, 3.75, 7.5, 15 µg/ml) of glycyrrhetinic acid were tested. Changes in the biofilm architecture after exposure to glycyrrhetinic acid were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the role of glycyrrhetinic acid in enhancing the antimicrobial activity of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), an antimicrobial agent commonly used in oral health care products, was evaluated. RESULTS: Glycyrrhetinic acid concentration of up to 15 µg/ml had little cytotoxic effect but significantly changed the biofilm architecture. SEM analysis revealed destabilized biofilm structure after the preformed biofilms were exposed to glycyrrhetinic acid. Supplementing 2.5 µg/ml CPC with 15 µg/ml glycyrrhetinic acid significantly enhanced the bactericidal effect of CPC on the pre-formed biofilms than that in the non-supplemented CPC treated control. This indicates that glycyrrhetinic acid enhanced the antimicrobial activity of CPC by modifying the structure, thus facilitating the penetration of CPC into the biofilm. CONCLUSIONS: Glycyrrhetinic acid could be a potential agent to effectively control S. mutans biofilms responsible for dental caries.