The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of a Punica granatum Linn (pomegranate) phytotherapeutic gel and miconazole (Daktarin oral gel) against three standard streptococci strains (mutans ATCC 25175, sanguis ATCC 10577 and mitis ATCC 9811), S. mutans clinically isolated and Candida albicans either alone or in association. The effect of minimum inhibitory concentrations of the gels on the adherence of these microorganisms to glass was assessed in the presence of 5% sucrose, using increasing and doubled concentrations of the diluted solution of the gels ranging from 1:1 to 1:1024. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of adherence of Punica granatum L. gel against the test organisms were: 1:16 for S. mutans (ATCC), S. mutans (CI) and S. sanguis; 1:128 for S. mitis and 1:64 for C. albicans. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of adherence of miconazole against the same organisms were: 1:512, 1:64, 1:4, 1:128 and 1:16, respectively. In experiments with three and four associated microorganisms, the Punica granatum L. gel had greater efficiency in inhibiting microbial adherence than the miconazole. The results of this study suggest that this phytotherapeutic agent might be used in the control of adherence of different microorganisms in the oral cavity.

RESUMO:Plantas medicinais com propriedades terapêuticas são de grande relevância em todo o mundo, principalmente em países em desenvolvimento. A planta Anacardium occidentale Linn. é largamente usada na medicina tradicional na nossa região, como antidiarréico, para amigdalite, bronquites, artrites, e antiifl amatório. No presente estudo avaliou-se a ação antimicrobiana do extrato hidroalcóolico da casca do caule do cajueiro frente a amostras de Staphylococcus aureus resistentes e sensíveis à meticilina, obtidas a partir de pacientes internados do Hospital Universitário/Universidade Federal da Paraíba. A atividade antimicrobiana foi determinada pelo método de difusão em meio sólido para a determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima do extrato, e foi observada no total de 30 amostras, pela presença ou não do halo de inibição. Todas as amostras ensaiadas mostraram-se sensíveis à ação do extrato do cajueiro, com diâmetros dos halos de inibição variando de 10 a 20 mm, demonstrando grande efi cácia do cajueiro. Assim, o uso desta planta na nossa região pode inferir uma alternativa terapêutica efi ciente e de baixo custo, contra infecções bacterianas causadas por Staphylococcus aureus.Unitermos: Anacardiaceae, Anacardium occidentale, Staphylococcus aureus, atividade antimicrobiana.ABSTRACT: "Antimicrobial activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of Anacardium occidentale Linn. against multi-drug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus". Medicinal plants with therapeutical properties are of great signifi cance in the whole world, especially in developing countries. Anacardium occidentale Linn. is a plant widely used in the traditional medicine in our region against diarrhea, tonsillitis, bronchitis, arthritis, and infl ammation. In this paper, the antimicrobial activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the cashew tree stem was evaluated against samples of meticillin-resistant and meticillin-sensible Staphylococcus aureus, attained from patients interned at Hospital Universitário/Universidade Federal da Paraíba. The antimicrobial activity was determined by the diffusion method in solid milieu to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extract, and it was observed in 30 samples the presence or not of inhibition zone. All the assayed samples proved to be sensible to the activity of the extract of the cashew tree, with inhibition zones diameter of 10 to 20 mm, displaying consequently great effectiveness of the extract of the cashew tree stem. Thus, the use of this plant in our region can infer a low cost and effi cient therapeutical alternative against bacterial infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

RESUMO:Nesta pesquisa foi avaliada a atividade antimicrobiana e a capacidade de inibição da síntese de glucano in vitro do extrato da casca do fruto da romã (Punica granatum Linn.) sobre linhagens bacterianas de Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus sobrinus e Lactobacillus casei. Os ensaios foram realizados pelas técnicas de ágar-difusão em placas para determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) e técnica dos tubos inclinados para determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima de Aderência (CIMA) ao vidro, na presença de 5% de sacarose. Os mesmos procedimentos foram realizados com a clorexidina à 0,12%. As CIMs (mg/mL) do extrato da P. granatum frente ao S. mitis, S. mutans, S. sanguis, S. sobrinus e L. casei foram 1:32, 1:8, 1:8, 1:512, e 1:128, respectivamente. Para as CIMAs o extrato da P. granatum mostrou resultados melhores que a clorexidina, exceto para o S. mutans com achados semelhantes na diluição de 1:256. Os resultados mostram a potencialidade da P. granatum na inibição do crescimento bacteriano e síntese de glucano representada pela aderência ao vidro, sugerindo o emprego do extrato da romã, como meio alternativo, no controle desses microrganismos na formação do biofi lme.Unitermos: Punica granatum, atividade antimicrobiana, efeito antiaderente, biofi lme dental, Streptococcus.ABSTRACT: "In vitro antibacterial and antiadherence effect of the extract of the Punica granatum Linn. upon dental biofi lm microrganisms". In this study was evaluated the in vitro antibacterial activity and the inhibition of glucan sintesis of the fruit bark of Punica granatum Linn extract upon the following dental biofi lm bacteria: Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus sobrinus and Lactobacillus casei. The tests were carried out by inundation tecniques in Petri dishes to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and inclined tubes techniques to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Adherence to glass (MICA) at the presence of 5% sucrose. Tests with gluconate of chlorexidine (0.12%) were performed as controls. MICs of the P granatum extract dilutions (mg/mL) against S. mitis, S. mutans, S. sanguis, S. sobrinus e L. casei were 1:32, 1:8, 1:8, 1:512, and 1:128 respectively. For MICAs the P. granatum showed better results than chlorexidine, except for S. mutans with both substances showing similar results of 1:256. It can be concluded that the extract of the P. granatum has the potential to inhibit oral bacterial growth and glucan sintesis. The extract of the Punica granatum might be used as an effective antibacterial alternative agent against oral biofi lm bacteria.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a gel containing the extract of Punica granatum as an antifungal agent against candidosis associated with denture stomatitis. Sixty patients with denture stomatitis confirmed by clinical and mycologic examination were selected. The patients were randomly allocated in two groups of 30 individuals each according to the medication prescribed: group A used miconazole (Daktarin(R) gel oral) and group B used a gel of P. granatum Linné (pomegranate). Both groups used the medicines three times per day for 15 days. Forty-eight hours after finishing the treatment the patients were re-examined and a second set of samples was collected for mycologic examination. The medicines were evaluated for their clinical response and negativity for Candida. The clinical results showed a satisfactory and regular response in 27 and 21 subjects of groups A and B, respectively. Negativity of yeasts was observed in 25 subjects of group A and 23 of group B. It can be concluded that the extract of P. granatum may be used as a topical antifungal agent for the treatment of candidosis associated with denture stomatitis.

"In vitro antimicrobial activity and antiadherence of Rosmarinus offi cinalis Linn. against oral planktonic bacteria". In this study was investigated the antimicrobial activity and in vitro adherence inhibition of a hydro alcoholic Rosmarinus offi cinalis Linn. (alecrim) on standard strains of Streptococcus mitis ATCC 98811, Streptococcus sanguinis ATCC 10556, Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC 27609 and Lactobacillus casei ATCC 7469 extract. The test was carried out by inundation tecniques in Petri dishes to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and inclined tubes techniques the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Adherence to glass (MICA) at the presence of 5% sucrose. Tests with gluconate of chlorexidine 0.12% were performed as controls. MICs of the Rosmarinus offi cinalis extract dilutions (mg/mL) against S. sanguinis ATCC 10556, S. mutans ATCC 25175, S. sobrinus ATCC 27609 and L. casei ATCC 7469 were 1:1, 1:4, 1:1 e 1:4, respectively. The extract from alecrim inhibited all the standard strains growth tested, except for S. mitis ATCC 98811. MICAs of the Rosmarinus offi cinalis extract dilutions (mg/mL) against S. mitis ATCC 98811, S. mutans ATCC 25175 e S. sobrinus ATCC were 1:8, 1:16 e 1:8, respectively. The results suggest that there is a possibility of the alecrim use as an oral antimicrobial. Nevertheless, study models which could reproduce situations similar to those seen in bucal caries are necessary for the antimicrobial agents evaluation in the treatment and biofi lm dependant oral infections prevention.