Abstract
BackgroundDental caries remains the most prevalent and costly oral infectious disease worldwide, encouraging the search for new and more effective antimicrobials. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the antimicrobial action of selected phytochemicals (eugenol, citronellol, sabinene hydrate, trans-cinnamaldehyde, terpineol and cinnamic acid) against Streptococcus mutans in planktonic and biofilm states as well as the cytotoxicity of these compounds.MethodsThe antibacterial activity of the selected compounds was evaluated by the determination of the minimal bactericidal concentration. The resazurin assay was used to assess the metabolic activity of sessile S. mutans. The cytotoxicity was determined using a fibroblast cell line.ResultsAmong the tested phytochemicals, citronellol, cinnamic acid and trans-cinnamaldehyde were the most effective against both planktonic and sessile S. mutans, an effect apparently related to their hydrophobic character. Additionally, these three compounds did not compromise fibroblasts cell viability.DiscussionCitronellol, cinnamic acid and trans-cinnamaldehyde demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity and low cytotoxicity proposing their potential as a novel group of therapeutic compounds to control oral infectious diseases. Moreover, their effects are particularly relevant when benchmarked against eugenol, a phytochemical commonly used for prosthodontic applications in dentistry.
Highlights
Oral diseases continue to be a major health problem worldwide
All the phytochemicals presented a number of rotable bonds (n-ROTB) ≤ 5 and a topological polar surface area
The antibacterial activity of selected phytochemicals was evaluated by Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) determination
Summary
Oral diseases continue to be a major health problem worldwide. Dental biofilm formation can lead to the development of oral infectious diseases, such as caries, gingivitis and periodontitis (Chinsembu, 2016; Hwang, Klein & Koo, 2014). The aim of this work was to study the antimicrobial action of selected phytochemicals (eugenol, citronellol, sabinene hydrate, trans-cinnamaldehyde, terpineol and cinnamic acid) against Streptococcus mutans in planktonic and biofilm states as well as the cytotoxicity of these compounds. Citronellol, cinnamic acid and transcinnamaldehyde were the most effective against both planktonic and sessile S. mutans, an effect apparently related to their hydrophobic character These three compounds did not compromise fibroblasts cell viability. Citronellol, cinnamic acid and trans-cinnamaldehyde demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity and low cytotoxicity proposing their potential as a novel group of therapeutic compounds to control oral infectious diseases. Their effects are relevant when benchmarked against eugenol, a phytochemical commonly used for prosthodontic applications in dentistry
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
