Clinical assessment of rosemary-based toothpaste (rosmarinus officinalis linn. ): a randomized controlled double-blind study

Abstract The present study was to investigate the action of a toothpaste made from the extract of Rosmarinus officinalis Linn. (rosemary) in a clinical randomized, controlled, open and double-blind trial. One hundred and ten volunteers fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were randomly separated into two groups according to the toothpastes used: Group A (experimental) and Group B (control). They were assessed at baseline and 30 days after the study using the gingival bleeding index (GBI) and the plaque index (PI). Data analysis was conducted to calculate the effects of the two toothpastes on gingival bleeding and plaque, using measurements such as the excess relative risk (ERR), the Relative Risk Reduction (RRR), the Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR) and the Number Needed for Treatment (NNT). The two toothpastes provided similar results in terms of the reduction in the risk of gingival bleeding (relative and absolute): a reduction of 38% in Group A, ERR=0.38; a reduction of 29.3% in Group B, ERR=0.293; A and B reduced by 18% ARR=0.18). The reductions in bacterial plaque were also similar (22.7% reduction in Group A, RRR=0.227; 28% reduction in Group B, RRR= 0.28). The number needed for treatment values for bleeding and plaque were A and B NNT=5 and A and B NNT=7, respectively. The rosemary-based toothpaste effectively treated gingival bleeding and reduced bacterial plaque, when compared with conventional toothpaste.

Resumo O presente estudo investigou a ação de uma pasta de dente feita a partir do extrato de Rosmarinus officinalis Linn. (Alecrim) em um ensaio clínico randomizado, controlado, aberto e duplo-cego. Cento e dez voluntários preencheram os critérios de inclusão e foram separados aleatoriamente em dois grupos de acordo com as pastas usadas: Grupo A (experimental) e Grupo B (controle). Eles foram avaliados no início e 30 dias após o estudo usando o índice de sangramento gengival (GBI) e o índice de placa (PI). A análise dos dados foi realizada para calcular os efeitos das duas pastas dentárias sobre sangramento gengival e placa, usando medidas como o excesso de risco relativo (ERR), a Redução do Risco Relativo (RRR), a Redução do Risco Absoluto (ARR) e o Número Necessário para Tratamento (NNT). As duas pastas de dentes proporcionaram resultados semelhantes em termos de redução do risco de sangramento gengival (relativo e absoluto): redução de 38% no Grupo A, ERR=0,38; Uma redução de 29,3% no Grupo B, ERR=0,293; A e B reduziram-se em 18% ARR=0,18). As reduções na placa bacteriana também foram semelhantes (redução de 22,7% no Grupo A, RRR=0,227, redução de 28% no Grupo B, RRR=0,28). O número necessário para tratamento de sangramento e placa foi A e B NNT=5 e A e B NNT=7, respectivamente. A pasta de dente à base de alecrim tratou efetivamente o sangramento gengival e reduziu a placa bacteriana, quando comparada à pasta dentífrica convencional.

Antifungal Activity of Eugenol and its Association with Nystatin on Candida albicans

Objective: To evaluate the anti-Candida effect of eugenol and its antimicrobial interaction with nystatin. Material and Methods: The antimicrobial potential was assessed by microdilution technique (M27A3 reference method), by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) against C. albicans (ATCC 90028). The possible action of eugenol on the fungal cell wall was evaluated with the assistance of the osmotic protector sorbitol (0.8 M). The antimicrobial interaction with nystatin was assessed through the checkerboard method. All tests were performed in triplicate. Results: All groups showed reductions in PI and GBI values and improvements in oral health knowledge, but IG1 and IG2 showed statistically significant differences in these variables compared to CG. Conclusion: The eugenol has antifungal activity against C. albicans and its mechanism of action is probably not related to damage to the fungal cell wall. Association between eugenol and nystatin was not found to be an advantageous possibility for growth inhibition of C. albican.

Atividade antibacteriana in vitro de fitoconstituintes sobre micorganismos do biofilme dentário / In vitro antibacterial activity of phytochemicals on dental biofilm microorganisms

Objetivo: Avaliar in vitro a atividade antimicrobiana docitronelol, linalol, timol e D-limoneno frente a Streptococcus mutans, S. salivarius e S. oralis. Materiale Métodos: Realizou-se um screening pela técnica de difusão em meio sólido. Discos de papel absorvente foram em bebidos com 30 μL da substância-teste e dispostos em placas dePetri contendo Ágar Müeller Hinton previamente semeadas com inóculo bacteriano. Após incubação por 24h a 37ºC, foi realizada a mensuração dos halos de inibição do crescimento bacteriano com auxílio de um paquímetro manual. A clorexidina2% foi utilizada como controle positivo. O estudo foi realizado em triplicata. Resultados: O citronelol obteve média do diâmetro dos halos, em milímetros (mm), para S. mutans, S.oralis e S. salivarius, respectivamente: 10.7, 10.0 e 9.8. Otimol, para a mesma sequência de microorganismos: 7.3, 7.3e 8.3 mm. O D-limoneno exibiu médias de 8.0, 6.7 e 6.0 mmpara S. mutans, S. oralis e S. salivarius, respectivamente.Mensurou-se médias dos halos de 8.0, 9.0 e 8.2 mm, para os mesmos microorganismos, quando testado o linalol. Aclorexidina, por sua vez, apresentou média dos diâmetros dos halos de 17 mm para S. mutans, 16.8 mm para S. oralis e19.7 mm para S. salivarius. Conclusão: Os produtos avaliados apresentaram atividade antibacteriana,representando possíveis substâncias com aplicabilidade na prevenção da cárie dentária.

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity ofcitronellol, linalool, thymol, and D-limonene againstStreptococcus mutans, S. salivarius and S. oralis. Materialand Methods: It was performed a screening by the diffusiontechnique on solid medium. Absorbent paper discs weresoaked with 30 μl of the tested substance and then placedon petri dishes containing Mueller Hinton agar previously sownwith the bacterial inoculum. After incubation for 24 h at 37 °C,it was measured the halo of growth inhibition with the aid ofa manual caliper. Chlorhexidine (2%) was used as positivecontrol. Tests were performed in triplicate. Results: Forcitronellol, the means of the diameters of the halos, in millimeters (mm), were 10.7, 10.0, and 9.8 against S. mutans,S. salivarius and S. oralis respectively. The values foundfor thymol were 7.3, 7.3 and 8.3 mm, respectively. Thephytochemical D-limonene exhibited means of 8.0, 6.7 and6.0 mm, respectively. For linalool, the means of the haloswere 8.0 mm, 9.0 mm and 8.2 mm. Chlorhexidine was foundto show means of 17, 16.8 and 19.7 mm on S. mutans, S.oralis and S. salivarius respectively. Conclusion: The products under test showed antibacterial activity, being therefore potential substances to be applied for dental caries prevention.