Abstract
BackgroundStreptococcus mutans (S. mutans) plays a major role in the formation of dental caries. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the green tea polyphenol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), on biofilm formation of S. mutans.MethodsFollowing exposure to increasing concentrations of EGCG, the planktonic growth was measured by optical density and the biofilm biomass was quantified by crystal violet staining. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) production was visualized by confocal scanning laser microscopy, and the bacterial DNA content was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Gene expression of selected genes was analyzed by real time (RT)-qPCR and membrane potential was examined by flow cytometry.ResultsWe observed that EGCG inhibited in a dose-dependent manner both the planktonic growth and the biofilm formation of S. mutans. Significant reduction of S. mutans biofilm formation, DNA content, and EPS production was observed at 2.2–4.4 mg/ml EGCG. EGCG reduced the expression of gtfB, gtfC and ftf genes involved in EPS production, and the nox and sodA genes involved in the protection against oxidative stress. Moreover, EGCG caused an immediate change in membrane potential.ConclusionsEGCG, a natural polyphenol, has a significant inhibitory effect on S. mutans dental biofilm formation and EPS production, and thus might be a potential drug in preventing dental caries.
Highlights
Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) plays a major role in the formation of dental caries
Anti‐bacterial and anti‐biofilm activity of EGCGWe first studied the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the planktonic growth of S. mutans and observed that EGCG reduced the planktonic growth of S. mutans in a dose-dependent manner, with a significant growth inhibition at an EGCG concentration of 1.1 mg/ml (50 ± 2%) and 2.2 mg/ml (56 ± 2%) with a maximal effect at 4.4 mg/ml (84 ± 2%) (Fig. 1)
S. mutans was incubated for 24 h with increasing concentrations of EGCG, and the biofilm biomass was quantified by crystal violet (CV) staining
Summary
Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) plays a major role in the formation of dental caries. The cariogenic potential of S. mutans is associated with its ability to form biofilms on both soft and hard oral surfaces such as the palate, tongue, restorations and teeth [2, 3]. It can form biofilms on diverse dental devices including orthodontic brackets and retainers [4]. S. mutans produces organic acids upon metabolism of sucrose and Schneider‐Rayman et al BMC Oral Health (2021) 21:447 acid-tolerance properties allow them to colonize the dental surface with plaque formation, inflicting damage to the hard tooth structures, making the teeth vulnerable to decay and to caries formation. The second type of extracellular enzyme responsible for metabolizing sugars is FTF, encoded by the ftf gene, which is responsible for fructan synthesis [12, 13]
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