Synergistic effect between cryptotanshinone and antibiotics in oral pathogenic bacteria

Jeong-Hye Park,Su-Mi Cha,Mi-Ran Jeong,Kyung-Min Choi,Jeong-Dan Cha,Kyung-Yeol Lee

doi:10.4236/abb.2013.42a039

Jeong-Hye Park, Su-Mi Cha + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.4236/abb.2013.42a039

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Abstract

Cryptotanshinone (CT), a major tanshinone of medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, demonstrated effective in vitro antibacterial activity against all oral bacteria tested in this experiment. The antibacterial activities of CT against oral bacteria were assessed using the checkerboard and time-kill methods to evaluate the synergistic effects of treatment with ampicillin or gentamicin. The CT was determined against oral pathogenic bacteria with MIC and MBC values ranging from 0.5 to 16 and 1 to 64 μg/mL; for am- picillin from 0.0313 to 16 and 0.125 to 32 μg/mL; for gentamicin from 2 to 256 and 4 to 512 μg/mL respectively. The range of MIC50 and MIC90 were 0.0625 - 8 μg/mL and 1 - 64 μg/mL, respectively. The combination effects of CT with antibiotics were synergistic (FIC index Streptococcus sobrinus, S. criceti, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (FIC index . Furthermore, a time-kill study showed that the growth of the tested bacteria was completely attenuated after 3 - 6 h of treatment with the 1/2 MIC of CT, regardless of whether it was administered alone or with ampicillin or gentamicin. The results suggest that CT could be employed as a natural antibacterial agent against cariogenic and periodontopathogenic bac- teria.

Highlights

Dental caries and periodontal disease are prevalent worldwide
Subgingival isolates of P. gingivalis, P. intermedia and F. nucleatum in a group of subjects increase in the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values of tetracycline [8]
We have investigated the antibacterial activity of cryptotanshinone, a major bioactive constituent isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) against oral pathogens when used alone and in combination with antibiotics

Summary

Introduction

Dental caries and periodontal disease are prevalent worldwide. Bacteria existing in the dental plaque or biofilm play an important role in the development of both dental caries and periodontal disease [1,2]. Periodontal diseases have been linked to anaerobic gram-negative bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium) [5]. Antibiotics such as ampicillin, chlorhexidine, erythromycin, penicillin, tetracycline and vancomycin have been very effective in preventing dental caries [6]. Subgingival isolates of P. gingivalis, P. intermedia and F. nucleatum in a group of subjects increase in the MIC values of tetracycline [8]. This clinical observation led to studies that established metronidazole as an important antibiotic for anaerobic infection. The increase in resistance and adverse effects has lead researchers to explore novel anti-infective herbal compounds which could be used for effective treatment of oral diseases [12,13]

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