3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM): A Potential Therapeutic Agent against Cariogenic Streptococcus mutans Biofilm

Abstract

Indole, a metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan, has been proven to act as a signal molecule in bacteria, acting in different aspects of biofilm formation. The oral biofilm is a type of biofilm that has consequences for human health. It is a complex, three-dimensional structure that develops on the surface of teeth via the attachment of primary microbial colonizers. Many oral infections are caused by an imbalance occurring in the microorganisms naturally found in oral biofilms and are considered major public health concerns. In this study, we test the effect of a natural bis-indole, 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM), in mitigating the pathogenicity of the oral biofilm inhabiting bacterium Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that is considered to be a principal etiological agent in dental caries. Our study found that DIM was able to attenuate S. mutans biofilm formation by 92%. Additionally, treatment with DIM lowered extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production and decreased its durability significantly under acidic conditions. Therefore, the anti-biofilm and anti-virulence properties of DIM against S. mutans bacteria in an “oral setting” provides evidence for its usefulness in reducing biofilm formation and potentially for caries attenuation.

The Marine Natural Compound Dragmacidin D Selectively Induces Apoptosis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Spheroids

“…Its mechanism of action is believed to involve NF-κB, Akt, Wnt, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and AhR signaling [66]. DIM also shows anti-inflammatory [67] and antibiotic [68] activity and shares these activities with dragmacidin D.…”

A Tandem Hydroformylation‐Organocatalyzed Friedel‐Crafts Reaction for the Synthesis of Diindolylmethanes

“…I3C is however unstable in aqueous and acidic conditions and converts in vivo to 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), which is the major condensation product and the trigger for cancer cell death of various cancer types. [5,6] DIM and its derivatives are not only used as anti-cancer treatment, but also as fungicides for phytopathogenic fungi, [7] anti-bacterial compounds against phytopathogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans in the oral biofilm, [8] as well as anti-inflammatory as a part of the cannabinoid receptor subtype CB 2 , [9] among others.…”