ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the anticaries effects of hesperidin in rats.Methods:The MIC of hesperidin against Streptococ-cus sobrinus(S.sobrinus)was explored with disc diffusion method.The rats with artificial caries were administered with 1/2 MIC hes-peridin,0.12%Chlorhexidine and distilled water respectively.The results of S.sobrinus level,Keyes scoring and DIAGNOdent exam-ination were used to evaluate the effects of hesperidin on S.sobrinus and caries development.Results:The MIC of hesperidin agaist S. sobrinus was 8 mg/ml.The S.sobrinus level was not statistically different between hesperidin group and negative control group(P>0. 05).Keyes scores of grade E of smooth and pit and fissure caries in hesperidin group were lower than in negative control(P<0.05), those of grade Ds and Dm of pit and fissure caries in hesperidin group were lower than in negative control(P<0.05 ),while higher than in chlorhexidine group(P<0.05).Hesperidin showed significant anti-caries effect(P<0.05)examined by DIAGNOdent.Con-clusion:Hesperidin at 1/2 MIC has anti-caries effect in rats without influence of the oral microecological balance.