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Planta Med 2011; 77(1): 40-45
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250121
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of 7-Epiclusianone on Streptococcus mutans and Caries Development in Rats

Luciana Salles Branco-de-Almeida1 , Ramiro Mendonça Murata1 , Eliane Melo Franco1 , Marcelo Henrique dos Santos2 , Severino Matias de Alencar3 , 5 , Hyun Koo4 , 5 , Pedro Luiz Rosalen1 , 5
  • 1Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, SP, Brazil
  • 2Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas, MG, Brazil
  • 3Department of Agri-Food Industry, Food and Nutrition, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
  • 4Center for Oral Biology and Eastman Department of Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
  • 5Natural Product Research Group in Oral Biology (NatPROB), SP, Brazil
Further Information

Publication History

received February 19, 2010 revised May 14, 2010

accepted June 12, 2010

Publication Date:
21 July 2010 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 7-epiclusianone (7-epi) on specific virulence attributes of Streptococcus mutans in vitro and on development of dental caries in vivo. 7-Epi was obtained and purified from fruits of Rheedia brasiliensis. We investigated its influence on surface-adsorbed glucosyltransferase (Gtf) B activity, acid production, and viability of S. mutans in biofilms, as well as on caries development using a rodent model. 7-Epi (100 µg/mL) significantly reduced the activity of surface-adsorbed GtfB (up to 48.0 ± 1.8 of inhibition at 100 µg/mL) and glycolytic pH-drop by S. mutans in biofilms (125 and 250 µg/mL) (vs. vehicle control, p < 0.05). In contrast, the test compound did not significantly affect the bacterial viability when compared to vehicle control (15 % ethanol, p > 0.05). Wistar rats treated topically with 7-epi (twice daily, 60-s exposure) showed significantly smaller number of and less severe smooth- and sulcal-surface carious lesions (p < 0.05), without reducing the S. mutans viable population from the animals' dental biofilms. In conclusion, the natural compound 7-epiclusianone may be a potentially novel pharmacological agent to prevent and control dental caries disease.

Key words

7‐epiclusianone - Rheedia brasiliensis - Guttiferae - Streptococcus mutans - GtfB - biofilm - dental caries

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Prof. Dr. Pedro Luiz Rosalen

Department of Physiological Sciences
University of Campinas
Piracicaba Dental School

Avenida Limeira, 901, Areão

Caixa Postal 52

13414 - 903 Piracicaba SP

Brazil

Phone: + 55 19 21 06 53 13

Fax: + 55 19 21 06 52 00

Email: rosalen@fop.unicamp.br