Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of essential oil of lemon grass (LGO) on Streptococcus mutans biofilm developed in hydroxyapatite discs surface. Initially, the susceptibility of S. mutans to the LGO through the inhibition zone test in planktonic suspension and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was investigated. To evaluate the effect of the essential oil in biofilms, hydroxyapatite discs were used to simulate the tooth surface. The biofilms of S. mutans were developed on the discs for 5 days and immersed daily in the following groups: G1 - immersion for 5 min in LGO to 0808 mg/ml (test group) and G2 – Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) 1% Sucrose (negative control). Then biofilms were counted for colony forming unit (CFU) and transformed into log10. The data were analyzed by ANOVA test with a P value <0.05. The susceptibility test was positive indicating inhibition of microorganisms and the MIC value was 0.04 mg/mL. As for biofilm results, it decreased the bacterial growth in G2 compared to G1 with a statistically significant difference (P <0.034). Considering the limitations of this study, it was concluded that the essential oil of lemon grass was effective in controlling bacterial growth in biofilms of Streptococcus mutans. Key words: Phytotherapy, Cymbopogon citratus, Streptococcus mutans, biofilm, dental plaque.
Highlights
Dental caries is considered an imbalance of re/ demineralization with a high incidence in humans (De Lorenzo, 2004)
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of essential oil of lemon grass (LGO) on Streptococcus mutans biofilm developed in hydroxyapatite discs surface
These results were the basis for evaluation of the effect of the essential oil on S. mutans biofilm formed on hydroxyapatite disks (10x2 mm; Clarkson Chromatography Inc., South Williamsport, PA), created in order to simulate the tooth surface
Summary
Dental caries is considered an imbalance of re/ demineralization with a high incidence in humans (De Lorenzo, 2004). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of caries in school children is 60-90%, and is virtually universal among adults in most countries (Petersen et al, 2005) It is still the leading cause of tooth loss, especially in people younger than 40 years (De Lorenzo, 2004). They are gram positive, facultative anaerobic bacteria whose cells are arranged singly or in chains of cocci. This microorganism is widely known for its intense acidogenesis due to production of organic acids as byproducts, which cause a carious lesion by dissolving the crystal structure of dental enamel, as well as for its ability to synthesize extracellular glucans, key factors in the development and establishment of a cariogenic biofilm (De Lorenzo, 2004; Yatsuda et al, 2005)
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