Abstract
BackgroundDental caries is a biofilm-diet-dependent worldwide public health problem, and approaches against microorganisms in cariogenic biofilms are necessary.MethodsThe antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of 12 Casearia sylvestris extracts (0.50 mg/mL) from different Brazilian biomes (Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pampa, and Pantanal) and varieties (sylvestris, lingua, and intermediate) were tested against two species found in cariogenic biofilms (Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans). The extracts effective against S. mutans were used to evaluate the "adhesion strength" of this bacterium to the salivary pellicle and initial glucan matrix and the S. mutans-GtfB activity. Also, the antimicrobial activity against S. mutans of three fractions (methanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane; 0.25 mg/mL) from the extracts was evaluated.ResultsThree extracts from the Atlantic Forest variety sylvestris (FLO/SC, GUA/CE, PRE/SP) reduced ≥50% (> 3 logs) S. mutans viable population (p < 0.0001 vs. vehicle), while two extracts from the same biome and variety (PAC/CE, PRE/SP) decreased ≥50% of the viable counts of C. albicans (p < 0.0001 vs. vehicle). For S. mutans biofilms, three extracts (GUA/CE, PAC/CE, PRE/SP) reduced the biomass by ≥91% (p > 0.0001 vs. vehicle) and 100% of the microbial population (p < 0.0001 vs. vehicle). However, for the fungal biofilm, two extracts (PAC/CE, PRE/SP) reduced the viable counts by ≥52% (p < 0.0001 vs. vehicle), but none reduced biomass. The extracts with higher antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities presented higher content of clerodane-type diterpenes and lower content of glycosylated flavonoids than the less active extracts. The extracts had no effect on the removal of cells adhered to the pellicle (p > 0.05 vs. vehicle) while promoted the detachment of a larger number of S. mutans cells from GtfB-glucan matrix (p < 0.0031 vs. vehicle), and FLO/SC, GUA/CE and PRE/SP reduced the quantity of glucans (p < 0.0136 vs. vehicle). Only the ethyl acetate fractions reduced the microbial population of S. mutans (p < 0.0001 vs. vehicle), except for one (PAC/CE). Among the ethyl acetate fractions, three from var. lingua (two from Cerrado, and one from Cerrado/Caatinga) reduced ≥83% of the microbial population.ConclusionsC. sylvestris extracts from Atlantic Forest var. sylvestris and ethyl acetate fractions from Cerrado and Cerrado/Caatinga var. lingua may be used as a strategy against cariogenic microorganisms.
Highlights
Dental caries is a biofilm-diet-dependent worldwide public health problem, and approaches against microorganisms in cariogenic biofilms are necessary
C. sylvestris extracts from Atlantic Forest var. sylvestris and ethyl acetate fractions from Cerrado and Cerrado/Caatinga var. lingua may be used as a strategy against cariogenic microorganisms
Characteristics of C. sylvestris extracts from distinct Brazilian biomes In an earlier study, an analytical method was developed using liquid chromatography and chemometrics to evaluate and differentiate two varieties of C. sylvestris Swartz (Salicaceae) from the State of São Paulo (Brazil) based on secondary metabolite profiles [33]
Summary
Dental caries is a biofilm-diet-dependent worldwide public health problem, and approaches against microorganisms in cariogenic biofilms are necessary. Dental caries is still the most prevalent oral condition associated with biofilm in the world [1,2,3], which harms the quality of life of millions of people [1,2,3] This ubiquitous disease results from complex interactions between specific oral organisms, host factors, and diet, which promote the transition from a healthy biofilm to a pathogenic one on the surface of the teeth [4, 5]. Streptococcus mutans plays a key role in the modulation and transition from non-pathogenic form to highly cariogenic biofilms [6], additional organisms may be associated [7,8,9] This species is highly acidogenic and aciduric and is the main producer of the extracellular matrix in dental biofilms [5]. Glucan synthesis in the pellicle provides additional microbial binding sites, while the polymers on the surface of microorganisms increase the cohesion between organisms [5, 11, 12]
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