Abstract
Chamaecyparis obtusa (C. obtusa) is known to have antimicrobial effects and has been used as a medicinal plant and in forest bathing. This study aimed to evaluate the anticariogenic activity of essential oil of C. obtusa on Streptococcus mutans, which is one of the most important bacterial causes of dental caries and dental biofilm formation. Essential oil from C. obtusa was extracted, and its effect on bacterial growth, acid production, and biofilm formation was evaluated. C. obtusa essential oil exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition of bacterial growth over 0.025 mg/mL, with 99% inhibition at a concentration of 0.2 mg/mL. The bacterial biofilm formation and acid production were also significantly inhibited at the concentration greater than 0.025 mg/mL. The result of LIVE/DEAD® BacLight™ Bacterial Viability Kit showed a concentration-dependent bactericidal effect on S. mutans and almost all bacteria were dead over 0.8 mg/mL. Real-time PCR analysis showed that gene expression of some virulence factors such as brpA, gbpB, gtfC, and gtfD was also inhibited. In GC and GC-MS analysis, the major components were found to be α-terpinene (40.60%), bornyl acetate (12.45%), α-pinene (11.38%), β-pinene (7.22%), β-phellandrene (3.45%), and α-terpinolene (3.40%). These results show that C. obtusa essential oil has anticariogenic effect on S. mutans.
Highlights
Dental caries is the most common infectious oral disease that has afflicted humans including children and adolescents [1]
After extraction of C. obtusa essential oil by hydrodistillation, the antibacterial activity of the oil was tested against S. mutans
C. obtusa essential oil significantly inhibited the growth of S. mutans in a concentration-dependent manner
Summary
Dental caries is the most common infectious oral disease that has afflicted humans including children and adolescents [1]. It is a multifactorial disease, which is caused by detrimental changes in bacterial ecology due to formation of a biofilm that adheres to the tooth surface [2]. During the past few decades, many reports worldwide showed an overall decreasing trend of dental caries. Recent studies have reported an alarming increase in caries prevalence, especially among the underprivileged groups [3]. S. mutans can colonize the oral cavity and form bacterial biofilm. It has the ability to survive in an acidic environment and interact with other microorganisms colonizing this ecosystem [2]
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