Antimicrobial, anti-adhesion, anti-biofilm properties of goji berry (Lycium barbarum) against periodontal bacteria: potential benefits for periodontal diseases.

OBJECTIVES: Lycium barbarum, commonly known as goji berry, Himalayan berry, or Tibetian berry, is emerging as a popular "superfood" with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, its use for the management of oral inflammatory diseases has not been explored. The present study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial, anti-adhesion, anti-biofilm, and cytotoxic properties of an ethanolic extract of L. barbarum (LBE) against common oral and periodontal pathogens. METHODS: The antimicrobial properties of LBE against five potential periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Tanerella forsythia) were tested and compared to chlorhexidine and doxycycline using serial dilution and disc diffusion assay. The MTT Assay was performed for evaluating the cytotoxicity and cell viability of the LBE on the gingival fibroblast and modified keratinocyte cell lines. The anti-adhesion and anti-biofilm properties of LBE against P. gingivalis at its minimal bactericidal value were also assessed. RESULTS: LBE inhibited the growth of periodontal pathogens as compared to control, however, the zone of inhibition of LBE was less when compared to doxycycline and chlorhexidine. The de novo extract showed a maximum zone of inhibition against Tf and Aa. The LBE extract was also compatible to gingival fibroblast tissues and oral keratinocytes at 1 mg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: L. barbarum is a promising alternative to Chlorhexidine for the management of oral and periodontal infections.

Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) inhibits the proliferation, adhesion, and migration of oral cancer cells by inhibiting the ERK, AKT, and CyclinD cell signaling pathways: an in-vitro study.

Background: Lycium barbarum (L. barbarum), popularly referred to as Goji berry, is a promising herb known for its powerful anti-antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating inflammatory and infectious diseases. It has also shown good anti-cancer properties and has been tested against liver, colon, prostate, breast, and cervical cancers. However, no study has yet evaluated the role of goji berries against oral cancer. Hence, the present paper aims to evaluate the anticancer properties of L. barbarum against oral squamous cell carcinoma. Method: Ethanolic extract of L. barbarum (EELB) was tested for its anticancer properties by performing the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, colony formation, cell proliferation, and scratch wound test. The impact of EELB on the signaling transduction pathways of Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), protein kinase (AKT1), cyclin D1 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was also assessed by western blot. Results: The results showed that EELB can impede CAL-27 cell growth, proliferation and migration in-vitro. It even reduced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and AKT1 with concomitant downregulation of cyclin D1 (CCND1), cadherin 2 (CDH2), and vimentin (VIM) and upregulation of cadherin 1 (CDH1) expression suggesting its anti-proliferative and anti-EMT effects in oral cancer. Conclusion: Goji berry has good antiproliferative and anti-invasive properties. It affects potential EMT markers and signaling transduction pathways involved in oral cancers. Hence goji berry can be tried as a potential anticancer agent to manage oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The Influence of the Suture-less Anterior Releasing Incision in a Triangular Flap Design on Postoperative Healing Following Surgical Removal of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of suture-less anterior releasing incisions on postoperative wound healing following surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 112 patients were included in the study. Group 1 had 56 patients in which the anterior releasing incision was not sutured postoperatively, and group 2 had 56 patients, in whom the anterior releasing incision was sutured. The two groups were compared in terms of pain, swelling, and trismus at 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days postoperatively. The Univariate Type III Repeated-Measures ANOVA Assuming Sphericity was used to compare the two modes of treatments at different time points. The periodontal healing distal to the second molar was assessed on the first day and at 2 months following the surgical intervention. The independent t test was used to compare the periodontal healing between the two groups at two time points. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the two groups for pain and trismus (P > 0.05). However, the swelling was significantly greater in group 2 as compared to group 1 (P < 0.001). Periodontal healing was better in group 2, which showed lower periodontal probing depth distal to the mandibular second molar, compared to group 1 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Suture-less anterior releasing incision decreases the postoperative swelling and edema, but the periodontal healing was poor when compared to the sutured anterior releasing incision cases. The type of closure technique did not have any significant influence on pain and trismus.