ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a dentifrice containing Brazilian Red Propolis (BRP) against salivary Lactobacillus spp. and plaque formation. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Forty-two participants were randomized into two groups according to the dentifrice employed: G1 (fluoridated BRP dentifrice) and G2 (fluoridated common dentifrice). Saliva was collected and the visible plaque index (VPI) was recorded at the baseline (D0) and 4 weeks after day 0 (D28). Microbiological analysis was performed using two dilutions. Lactobacillus spp. isolates were identified and their abundance was expressed as log (CFU/mL). RESULTS: For the first dilution, the counts of Lactobacillus spp. in G1 was 1.15 ± 0.41 at D0 and 0.68 ± 0.15 at D28 (P < 0.05) and in G2 it was 1.33 ± 0.52 at D0 and 1.84 ± 0.39 at D28 (P < 0.05). For the second dilution, the corresponding values in G1 and G2 were 0.87 ± 0.34 and 0.64 ± 0.37, respectively (P = 0.1547), and 1.54 ± 0.47 and 1.62 ± 0.37, respectively (P = 0.9999). The corresponding VPI values for G1 and G2 were 38.10 ± 17.95 and 20.60 ± 16.44, respectively (P < 0.05), and 38.38 ± 19.65 and 27.40 ± 14.63, respectively (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The dentifrice containing BRP showed antimicrobial activity against Lactobacillus spp. and decreased the VPI for up to 4 weeks.
Subject(s)
Dental Plaque , Dentifrices , Gingivitis , Propolis , Dental Plaque Index , Double-Blind Method , HumansABSTRACT
The anticonvulsant effects of hydroalcoholic extracts (HAEs) from the stem bark of Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and strychnine-induced seizure tests and the potentiation of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice with the extracts were examined in this study. These medicinal plants belong to the Fabaceae family and are popularly used in Brazil for their effects on the central nervous system. The extracts of Erythrina velutina (intraperitoneally or orally) and Erythrina mulungu (intraperitoneally) were administered in mice at single doses (200 or 400mg/kg). While Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu did not exhibit any protector effect in PTZ-induced seizures, at any dose, an increase in the latency of convulsion and in the death time was observed with both doses and routes of Erythrina velutina and at higher dose of Erythrina mulungu, in strychnine-induced seizure. No alteration was observed with Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu on sleeping latency at both doses as compared to control (362.8+/-59.5). However, the sleeping time was increased in both plants as compared to control (943.8+/-129.6). In conclusion, we showed that the hydroalcoholic extracts of Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu have anticonvulsant effects only in the strychnine-induced seizure model, suggesting their possible action in glycine system and a potentiation of pentobarbital sleeping time, suggesting depressant action in the central nervous system.
