Systematic Screening of Plant Extracts from the Brazilian Pantanal with Antimicrobial Activity against Bacteria with Cariogenic Relevance

Abstract

This study proposes a bioprospection methodology regarding the antimicrobial potential of plant extracts against bacteria with cariogenic relevance. Sixty extracts were obtained from ten plants - (1) Jatropha weddelliana, (2) Attalea phalerata, (3) Buchenavia tomentosa, (4) Croton doctoris, (5) Mouriri elliptica, (6) Mascagnia benthamiana, (7) Senna aculeata, (8) Unonopsis guatterioides, (9) Allagoptera leucocalyx and (10) Bactris glaucescens - using different extraction methods - (A) 70° ethanol 72 h/25°C, (B) water 5 min/100°C, (C) water 1 h/55°C, (D) water 72 h/25°C, (E) hexane 72 h/25°C and (F) 90° ethanol 72 h/25°C. The plants were screened for antibacterial activity at 50 mg/ml using the agar well diffusion test against Actinomyces naeslundii ATCC 19039, Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356, Streptococcus gordonii ATCC 10558, Streptococcus mutans ATCC 35688, Streptococcus sanguinis ATCC 10556, Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC 33478 and Streptococcus mitis ATCC 9811. The active extracts were tested to determine their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), cytotoxicity and chemical characterization. Forty-seven extracts (78%) were active against at least one microorganism. Extract 4A demonstrated the lowest MIC and MBC for all microorganisms except S. gordonii and the extract at MIC concentration was non-cytotoxic. The concentrated extracts were slightly cytotoxic. Electrospray ionization with tandem mass spectrometry analyses demonstrated that the extract constituents coincided with the mass of the terpenoids and phenolics. Overall, the best results were obtained for extraction methods A, B and C. The present work proved the antimicrobial activity of several plants. Particularly, extracts from C. doctoris were the most active against bacteria involved in dental caries disease.

Cariogram outcome after 90 days of oral treatment with Streptococcus salivarius M18 in children at high risk for dental caries: results of a randomized, controlled study

“… 5 This outcome could be a consequence of using well-known natural or synthetic antibiotics and also of using new herbal medicines endowed with antibiotic activity. 6 , 7 It is now becoming clear that the severity of some oral pathologies, including dental caries, otitis media, halitosis, and streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis, can be related to the development of oral microbiota disequilibria. The application of oral probiotics to help restore a balanced microbiota and thereby improve oral health is a relatively new concept.…”

Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oil Increases the Effect of Digluconate Chlorhexidine on Microcosm Biofilms

“…The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the Cymbopogon citratus essential oil (Laszlo Aromatherapy Ltd.a, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil—batch 0717/05209/F) were carried out using the broth microdilution technique based on the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute [ 56 ] modified by Brighenti et al, 2014 [ 57 ].…”

Ellagic Acid–Cyclodextrin Complexes for the Treatment of Oral Candidiasis

“…New antifungal molecules from Brazilian Pantanal plants have been reported [18][19][20][21]. Among these molecules, ellagic acid showed promising activity against Candida albicans [19].…”