Antimicrobial activity of terpenoids from Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. against cariogenic bacteria

Abstract

In the present work, the anticariogenic activities of nine labdane type-diterpenes and four sesquiterpenes were investigated. Among these metabolites, (-)-copalic acid (CA) was the most active compound displaying MIC values very promising (ranging from 2.0 to 6.0 µg/mL) against the main microorganisms responsible for dental caries: Streptococcus salivarius, S. sobrinus, S. mutans, S. mitis, S. sanguinis and Lactobacillus casei. Time kill assays performed with CA against the primary causative agent (S. mutans) revealed that, in the first 12 h, this compound only inhibits the growth of the inoculum (bacteriostatic effect). However, its bactericidal effect is clearly noted thereafter (between 12 and 24 h). Also, CA did not show a synergistic effect when combined with the anticariogenic gold standard (chlorhexidine, CHD) in the checkerboard assays against S. mutans. In conclusion, the results points out CA as an important metabolite in the search for new effective anticariogenic agents.

Assessment of the antibacterial, cytotoxic and mutagenic potential of the phenolic-rich hydroalcoholic extract from Copaifera trapezifolia Hayne leaves

“…Copaifera spp. constitute a rich and promising source for the discovery of novel biologically active compounds with potential use in preventative therapies and in the treatment of oral diseases (Pieri et al, 2010;Souza et al, 2011a, b). In this sense, the search for new antimicrobial substances from other sources (including plants) for incorporation into dental products has intensified.…”

“…However, in a study with (À)-copalic acid, a diterpene that serves as biomarker of the genus Copaifera (Leandro et al, 2012), Souza et al (2011a) determined the synergistic antimicrobial activity of (À)-copalic acid isolated from C. langsdorffii. Together, CHD and (-)-copalic acid had indifferent effect on Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that underlies the start of the caries process; the P FIC index was 2.02.…”

Lignans: Chemical and Biological Properties

“…Dental plaque is defined as a biofilm consisting of cariogenic bacteria adhered on the tooth surface and plays an important role in the development of dental caries (Chung et al, 2006;Xie et al, 2008), one of the main oral diseases that affect humankind (More et al, 2008;Souza et al, 2010). This destructive infection of the dental hard tissues can progress and if untreated, lead to the death of vital pulp tissue and tooth loss (Allaker & Douglas, 2009).…”

Avaliação farmacocinética do extrato bruto e de metabólitos secundários das folhas de Copaifera langsdorffii Desf.

“…Neste aspecto, em estudos preliminares foi observado que a composição das partes aéreas desta espécie é bastante distinta do oleorresina, uma vez que o extrato hidroalcoólico das folhas é constituído majoritariamente por compostos polares derivados da via do ácido chiquímico, incluindo flavonoides e ácidos galoilquínicos (SOUZA et al, 2011;NOGUEIRA;FURTADO & BASTOS, 2015). Recentemente, 26 derivados de ácidos galoilquínicos foram identificados por nosso grupo de pesquisa, sendo que 16 deles foram isolados (MOTTA, 2014).…”