ABSTRACT
Streptococcus mutans triggers dental caries establishment by two major factors: synthesis of organic acids, which demineralize dental enamel, and synthesis of glucans, which mediate the attachment of bacteria to the tooth surface. Propolis is a natural product that may prevent dental caries. Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae), a native plant from Brazil, is the most important botanical origin for the production of green propolis (Brazilian propolis) by honeybees. However, whether B. dracunculifolia (Bd) has an anticariogenic effect, like green propolis, remains unknown. Herein, we have made a comparative evaluation of the effects of extracts from green propolis and Bd on the glucan synthesis and acidogenic potential of S. mutans. The inhibitory effects of the extracts on bacterial acid production were evaluated through the potentiometric measurement of pH from bacterial suspensions treated with serial concentrations of both extracts. Besides presenting close inhibitory values at the same concentration range, Bd leaf rinse and green propolis extracts had similar IC(50) values (0.41 and 0.34 mg/ml, respectively). Both extracts produced a bacteriostatic effect on S. mutans cultures at a concentration of 0.40 mg/ml. Estimated inhibitory values of green propolis and Bd leaf rinse extracts on the synthesis of insoluble glucans (IC(50)=12.9 and 25.0 microg/ml, respectively) and soluble glucans (IC(50)=50.4 and 49.1 microg/ml, respectively) were not significantly different from each other at p<0.05. The results demonstrate that Bd leaf rinse and green propolis extracts have similar inhibitory effects on the S. mutans cariogenic factors evaluated herein, and allowed us to suggest that Bd leaves may be a potential source for pharmaceutical products employed for this purpose.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Baccharis , Dental Caries/microbiology , Propolis/pharmacology , Streptococcus mutans/drug effects , Brazil , Carboxylic Acids/antagonists & inhibitors , Carboxylic Acids/metabolism , Dental Caries/prevention & control , Glucans/antagonists & inhibitors , Glucans/biosynthesis , Glucans/chemistry , Glucosyltransferases/antagonists & inhibitors , Glucosyltransferases/chemistry , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Leaves , Streptococcus mutans/metabolism , Streptococcus mutans/pathogenicity , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The acidogenic character of Streptococcus mutans has been pointed out as one of the most important physiological aspects associated with dental caries establishment. Fluoride is a key component of oral health promotion. Amine fluorides (AmF) have been used in products such as mouth rinses, toothpastes, gels and other topical fluoride agents for over 30 years in several European countries. In Brazil, the use of such substances was limited to toothpaste until August 2000, when a new resolution was published to approve the use of three AmFs in mouth rinses and other formulations for odontological purposes. In this report the influence of cetylamine fluoride (CAmF) and sodium fluoride (NaF) on acid production...
Subject(s)
Dental Caries/physiopathology , Fluorides , Glycolysis/physiology , Streptococcus mutans , Chemical Phenomena , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Specimen HandlingABSTRACT
Um enxaguatório bucal contendo cetilamino fluoreto (230 ppm de fluoreto) foi preparado para estudos in vitro do clearance de fluoreto e adsorçäo deste íon pelo esmalte dental e/ou hidroxiapatita, utilizando um dispositivo que simula a cavidade oral. Os estudos in vivo do clearance de fluoreto a partir desse enxaguatório bucal foram realizados e comparados com outras fontes de fluoreto. A quantidade de fluoreto absorvida aos blocos de dente ou hidroxiapatita em pó, ambos tratados com o enxaguatório bucal de cetilamino fluoreto, uma ou duas vezes ao dia, foi determinada. Os resultados desses estudos demonstraram ser possível a preparaçäo de enxaguatório bucal contendo cetilamino fluoreto como alternativa para a prevençäo e terapêutica de cáries dentárias
