β-caryophyllene may inhibit cariogenic biofilm and may be a candidate agent for prevention of dental caries. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Inhibitory effects ofβ-caryophyllene on Streptococcus mutans biofilm.
Arch Oral Biol. 2018 Apr ;88:42-46. PMID: 29407750
Hyun-Jun Yoo
OBJECTIVE: The biofilm of Streptococcus mutans is associated with induction of dental caries. Also, they produce glucan as an extracellular polysaccharide through glucosyltransferases and help the formation of cariogenic biofilm.β-caryophyllene has been used for therapeutic agent in traditional medicine and has antimicrobial activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of β-caryophyllene on S. mutans biofilm and the expression of biofilm-related factor.
DESIGN: The susceptibility assay of S. mutans forβ-caryophyllene was performed to investigate inhibitory concentration for S. mutans growth. To evaluated the effect of β-caryophyllene on S. mutans biofilm, β-caryophyllene was treated on S. mutans in the various concentrations before or after the biofilm formation. Live S. mutans in the biofilmwas counted by inoculating on Mitis-salivarius agar plate, and S. mutans biofilm was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscope after staining bacterial live/dead staining kit. Finally, the expression of glucosyltransferases of S. mutans was investigated by real-time RT-PCR after treating with β-caryophyllene at the non-killing concentration of S. mutans.
RESULTS: The growth of S. mutans was inhibited byβ-caryophyllene in above concentration of 0.078%, S. mutans biofilm was inhibited by β-caryophyllene in above 0.32%. Also, 2.5% of β-caryophyllene showed anti-biofilm activity for S. mutans biofilm. β-caryophyllene reduced the expression of gtf genes at a non-killing concentration for S. mutans.On the basis on these results, β-caryophyllene may have anti-biofilm activity and the inhibitory effect on biofilm related factor.
CONCLUSIONS: β-caryophyllene may inhibit cariogenic biofilm and may be a candidate agent for prevention of dental caries.