Antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens and immunomodulatory effects and toxicity of geopropolis produced by the stingless bee Melipona fasciculata Smith.

BACKGROUND: Native bees of the tribe Meliponini produce a distinct kind of propolis called geopropolis. Although many pharmacological activities of propolis have already been demonstrated, little is known about geopropolis, particularly regarding its antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens. The present study aimed at investigating the antimicrobial activity of M. fasciculata geopropolis against oral pathogens, its effects on S. mutans biofilms, and the chemical contents of the extracts. A gel prepared with a geopropolis extract was also analyzed for its activity on S. mutans and its immunotoxicological potential. METHODS: Antimicrobial activities of three hydroalcoholic extracts (HAEs) of geopropolis, and hexane and chloroform fractions of one extract, were evaluated using the agar diffusion method and the broth dilution technique. Ethanol (70%, v/v) and chlorhexidine (0.12%, w/w) were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Total phenol and flavonoid concentrations were assayed by spectrophotometry. Immunotoxicity was evaluated in mice by topical application in the oral cavity followed by quantification of biochemical and immunological parameters, and macro-microscopic analysis of animal organs. RESULTS: Two extracts, HAE-2 and HAE-3, showed inhibition zones ranging from 9 to 13 mm in diameter for S. mutans and C. albicans, but presented no activity against L. acidophilus. The MBCs for HAE-2 and HAE-3 against S. mutans were 6.25 mg/mL and 12.5 mg/mL, respectively. HAE-2 was fractionated, and its chloroform fraction had an MBC of 14.57 mg/mL. HAE-2 also exhibited bactericidal effects on S. mutans biofilms after 3 h of treatment. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in total phenol and flavonoid concentrations were observed among the samples. Signs toxic effects were not observed after application of the geopropolis-based gel, but an increase in the production of IL-4 and IL-10, anti-inflammatory cytokines, was detected. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, geopropolis produced by M. fasciculata can exert antimicrobial action against S. mutans and C. albicans, with significant inhibitory activity against S. mutans biofilms. The extract with the highest flavonoid concentration, HAE-2, presented the highest antimicrobial activity. In addition, a geopropolis-based gel is not toxic in an animal model and displays anti-inflammatory effect.

Emprego do óleo de Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel (Myrtaceae) na odontologia: perspectivas quanto à utilização como antimicrobiano alternativo às doenças infecciosas de origem bucal / Use of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel (Myrtaceae) oil in dentistry: perspectives on its use as alternative antimicrobial to infectious diseases of oral origin

O interesse por medicamentos alternativos, principalmente daqueles provenientes de extratos naturais, tem aumentado nas últimas décadas. A Melaleuca alternifolia é um arbusto pertencente ao gênero Melaleuca, popularmente conhecida como "árvore de chá", cujo principal produto é o óleo essencial (TTO - tea tree oil), de grande importância medicinal por possuir comprovada ação bactericida e antifúngica contra diversos patógenos humanos. Em virtude da atividade terapêutica em diversas especialidades médicas, o TTO passou a ser empregado na área odontológica. Esta revisão de literatura foi realizada com o objetivo de discutir os ensaios já realizados com o TTO contra microrganismos relacionados à doença cárie, doença periodontal e problemas pulpares. O óleo de Melaleuca tem demonstrado boa ação antibacteriana in vitro contra microrganismos bucais, porém, pesquisas envolvendo o estudo do mecanismo de ação sobre as células microbianas ou estudos in vivo ainda são escassos e precisam ser realizados, já que esse produto pode ser útil na odontologia, seja na manutenção química da higiene ou prevenção de doenças bucais.

The interest in alternative medicines, especially those from natural extracts, has increased in recent decades. Melaleuca alternifolia is a shrub belonging to the genus Melaleuca, popularly known as "tea tree", the main product of which is its essential oil (TTO - tea tree oil), of great medicinal importance for its proven bactericidal and antifungal activity against several human pathogens. By virtue of its therapeutic activity in various medical specialties, TTO is now used in dentistry. This literature review was conducted in order to discuss the tests already carried out with TTO against microorganisms related to dental caries, periodontal disease and pulpal problems. Melaleuca oil has shown good in vitro antibacterial activity against oral microorganisms; however, research involving the study of its mechanism of action on the microbial cells or in vivo studies are still scarce and need to be done since this product may be useful in dentistry, either in the chemical maintenance of hygiene or in the prevention of oral diseases.

[Correlation of oral allergy syndrome due to plant-derived foods with alder pollen, rbet v 1 and rbet v 2 sensitization in Yokohama region].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) to plant foods is often caused by cross-reactivity to pollen. We investigated whether there was any significant correlation between sensitization to the pollen of alder and Japanese cedar flying off in spring and prevalence of OAS in Yokohama region. METHODS: We measured specific IgE antibodies (CAP-FEIA: CAP) against alder and Japanese cedar in 337 outpatients with skin allergy in 2005 (M:F=167:170, 33.4 years of age, on the average). In the patients who showed positive response to CAP against alder and Japanese cedar, we also tested response to CAP against rBet v 1 and rBet v 2. In addition, we statistically analyzed whether there was any correlation between prevalence of OAS and sensitization to the pollen. RESULTS: Ratio of positive response to CAP against alder was 23.4% (79 cases) while that to CAP against Japanese cedar was 73.7% (244 cases). Response to CAP against rBet v 1 and rBet v 2 was tested in 55 cases, and the ratio of positive response to CAP against rBet v 1 was 43.6% (24 cases) while that to CAP against rBet v 2 was 27.3% (15 cases). Prevalence of OAS showed a significant positive correlation (p<0.001) with sensitization to alder, but no correlation with sensitization to Japanese cedar. CONCLUSION: It was suggested that sensitization to alder pollen would be involved in prevalence of OAS in Yokohama region.

Dentistry and Ayurveda--III (basics-ama, immunity, ojas, rasas, etiopathogenesis and prevention).

This article of the series Dentistry and Ayurveda describes in brief, the basic principles and unique concepts involved in Ayurveda namely the concepts of Ama, Ojas, Rasas (tastes-types and the factors affecting the choice of the drug/medicine etc.), immunity, etiopathogenesis and prevention of diseases in Ayurveda in general.

Sublingual reactivity to rBET V1 and rPHL P1 in patients with oral allergy syndrome.

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) in patients with pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis is caused by specific IgE recognizing cross-reacting epitopes of fruits and plants, which were clearly shown in vitro, but failed to be demonstrated in vivo by cross-challenges in the target organs. Considering the hypothesis of degradation of such epitopes in natural extracts, challenges with recombinant pollen allergens were done to evaluate the reactivity of the oral mucosa in OAS patients. Seventeen patients with OAS and rhinitis from birch (10) and grass pollen (7) and 10 non-atopic controls were studied by skin prick tests (SPT), allergen specific nasal challenges (ASNC) and allergen specific sublingual challenges (ASSC) with birch and timothy extracts and with rBet v1 and rPhl p1 at increasing concentrations from 1 to 1000 mcg/ml. None of the healthy subjects in the control group had any positive test for birch and timothy extracts or for recombinant allergens. In the OAS group the following results were observed: SPTs with recombinant allergens were positive in all patients, mostly at 10 mcg/ml concentration; ASNC with rBet v1 were positive in all patients, mostly at 100 mcg/ml; ASSC with natural pollen extracts were positive in only 2 of 17 patients, but in 15 of 17 with rBet v1 and rPhl p1, mostly at 500 mcg/ml and 1000 mcg/ml. ASSC with rBet v1 and rPhl p1 were positive with a mean concentration of 677 and 533 mcg/ml, respectively. The results of sublingual challenges with rBet v1 and rPhl p1 showed the in vivo cross-reactivity between pollens and foods in patients with OAS, but high concentrations of the recombinant allergens were needed to reproduce oral symptoms, thus explaining the failure of challenges performed with natural extracts, which have concentrations of major allergens lower than 50 mcg/ml. This indicates that sublingual mucosa is much less reactive to allergens than other surfaces, such as skin and nasal mucosa, probably because of its anatomic and immunologic peculiarity.

How long does the effect of birch pollen injection SIT on apple allergy last?

BACKGROUND: Recent studies showed that injection specific immunotherapy (SIT) with birch pollen extract greatly reduces or cures the associated apple allergy in a large proportion of birch pollen-allergic patients. However, the long-term efficacy of SIT for apple allergy has not been assessed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the duration of the effect of injection SIT with birch pollen extract on apple allergy in birch pollen-allergic patients. METHODS: Thirty birch pollen-allergic patients showing both the clinical disappearance of apple allergy and a negative SPT with fresh apple at the end of their injection SIT course were followed-up at 12-month intervals from 6 months after SIT was stopped. Apple tolerance as well as SPT was assessed on all occasions. Fifty-seven birch pollen-allergic subjects without apple allergy and not submitted to SIT regularly followed-up for the onset of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) were used as controls. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of OAS after 30 months of follow-up did not differ between patients and controls. Although most patients became re-sensitized to apple by SPT over time, >50% of them were still able to tolerate eating the fruit at the 30-month follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: Although most patients show a 'natural', gradual propensity to apple re-sensitization (a consequence of prolonged and repeated inhalation of birch pollen responsible for primary sensitization?), the clinical effects of injection SIT on food allergy seem rather long lasting.

Oral allergy syndrome to chicory associated with birch pollen allergy.

BACKGROUND: A few cases of IgE-mediated chicory allergy with oral, cutaneous, and/or respiratory symptoms are reported. We present 4 patients with inhalant birch pollen allergy and oral allergy syndrome to chicory. IgE-binding proteins in chicory and cross-reactivity with birch pollen were studied. METHODS: Chicory extract was prepared and immunoblotting was used to study IgE reactivity and cross-reactions with birch pollen. RESULTS: The pattern of IgE binding to chicory was variable among the patients, with protein bands recognized at 18, 21, 40, 52 and 71 kD. Bet v 1-like proteins were detected in chicory by monoclonal antibody binding. Chicory-birch pollen cross-reactivity, as studied in 2 patients from whom enough serum was available, could be demonstrated but did not involve the Bet v 1 protein family. In one of these cases, a 51-kD protein of birch pollen was found to be responsible for cross-reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Chicory should be added to the list of foods that can cross-react with birch pollen and cause the birch pollen-associated oral allergy syndrome.

Levamisole and Chinese medicinal herbs can modulate the serum interleukin-6 level in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcerations.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent aphthous ulcerations (RAU) are common oral inflammatory lesions. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has effects on cellular and humoral immunities. Previous studies have shown that the high serum IL-6 levels in some RAU patients can be reduced by drug treatment. This finding suggests that IL-6 may be a useful marker in evaluating therapeutic effects of RAU. METHODS: In this study, we used a solid phase, two-site sequential chemiluminescent immunometric assay to determine the baseline serum levels of IL-6 in a group of 228 patients with RAU, erythema multiforme (EM), traumatic ulcers (TU), oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), pemphigus vulgaris (PV), or Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and in 77 normal control subjects. Some RAU patients were treated with levamisole plus Chinese medicinal herbs or levamisole only for 0.5-5 months and their serum IL-6 levels were measured after treatment. RESULTS: We found that about 99% of the normal control subjects and the patients with EM, TU, or OSF had a serum IL-6 level within the normal limit of 5.0 pg/ml. However, 24% (48/197) RAU patients, 14% (1/7) EM patients, 43% (3/7) PV patients, and 100% (6/6) SS patients had a serum level of IL-6 greater than 5.0 pg/ml. The mean serum level of IL-6 in patients with RAU (3.6 +/- 3.5 pg/ml, P < 0.001), minor type RAU (2.7 +/- 2.0 pg/ml, P < 0.05), major type RAU (5.2 +/- 4.6 pg/ml, P < 0.001), or herpetiform type RAU (4.1 +/- 3.8 pg/ml, P < 0.01) was higher than that in normal control subjects. The mean serum level of IL-6 in major type (P < 0.001) or in herpetiform type RAU patients (P < 0.05) was higher than that in minor type RAU patients. The mean reduction of serum IL-6 level (10.0 +/- 7.1 pg/ml) in RAU patients after treatment with levamisole plus Chinese medicinal herbs was significantly higher than that (5.1 +/- 3.7 pg/ml) in RAU patients after treatment with levamisole only (P < 0.005), suggesting that the combination therapy is superior to the single therapy of levamisole only. CONCLUSION: We conclude that levamisole and levamisole plus Chinese medicinal herbs can modulate the serum IL-6 level in RAU patients. Although the therapeutic effect of RAU can be assessed by a decrease in the frequency, duration and number of the oral ulcerations, it can also be monitored by a reduction of serum IL-6 level in RAU patients.

[Specific-pollen immunotherapy in the treatment of oral allergy syndrome in patients with tree pollen hypersensitivity]. / Immunoterapia swoista w leczeniu zespolu alergii jamy ustnej u chorych uczulonych na pylki drzew.

UNLABELLED: Over the last three decades several authors have described the existence of an association between sensitivity to different pollens and sensitivity to diverse edible vegetables. Most patients with birch pollen allergy report oral allergy symptoms after eating fresh apples and other vegetable foods. Major birch pollen and apple allergens, Bet v 1 and Mal d 1, and other antigens are highly homologous; as a consequence, pollen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) might be expected to improve apple hypersensitivity. A prospective study was carried out in 27 birch pollen-sensitive patients with apple-induced OAS (oral allergy syndrome) who received injection immunotherapy for 24, or 36 months. Eight patients not submitted to SIT and followed up for 24-36 months were used as a control. Sixteen patients (59%) reported a significant reduction (37%) or a total disappearance (22%) of OAS symptoms after SIT. CONCLUSION: SIT with birch pollen extracts effectively reduces clinical apple sensitivity in some cases; these effects are not paralleled by a similar reduction of specific IgE and skin reactivity.

Nutrition and oral health.

The link between nutrition and oral health can be overt (vitamin B deficiency) or subtle (exacerbation of already existing periodontal disease). Medical, social, and clinical examinations can be useful tools for uncovering those patients at risk for nutrition deficiencies and can be used to guide these patients to healthy eating. Along with routine home care instruction, the practicing dentist and hygienist can provide a service for patients through nutrition counseling and by pointing out reputable sources of nutrient supplements.

Peels of Rosaceae fruits have a higher allergenicity than pulps.

BACKGROUND: It is not uncommon that patients allergic to fruits such as apple, pear, and peach, refer adverse reactions after the ingestion of the whole fruit, but subsequently tolerate the pulp. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the allergenicity of peels and pulps of apple, peach, and pear in 33 patients allergic to these fruits. METHODS: Clinical reactivity to the ingestion of whole fruit (peel + pulp) and pulp was established by medical history. Peels and pulps were tested separately in skin prick tests (SPTs), histamine release tests (HRTs) and RASTs. Cross-allergenicity between peel and pulp of apple and peach was studied by RAST inhibition. RESULTS: Adverse reactions appeared more frequently and were more severe when the whole fruit was eaten. More than 40% of patients allergic to apple and pear tolerated the ingestion of the pulp of these fruits, and reactions were only elicited by the intake of the whole fruit. Peels induced higher SPTs, HRTs and RASTs than pulps. An important cross-allergenicity was found between the peel and pulp of apple and peach, although the amount of the shared allergenic epitopes seemed to be higher in peels. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that peels of Rosaceae fruits such as apple, peach, and pear, have a higher allergenicity than pulps, which is clinically relevant. This aspect should be considered in the evaluation of patients allergic to Rosaceae fruits, and in the production of diagnostic materials.

Treatment of oral chronic graft-versus-host disease with PUVA therapy: case report and literature review.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease commonly appears with oral manifestations subsequent to allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. These manifestations include leukoplakia, mucosal atrophy, erythema, ulcers, and xerostomia. Some lesions are resistant to treatment with immunosuppressive medications. Ultraviolet A irradiation therapy with oral psoralen has been shown to be effective in treating these resistant lesions. This article presents a review of the literature and a case report.

[Relationship between birch pollen allergy and oral and pharyngeal hypersensitivity to fruit].

We evaluated the relationship between birch pollen allergy and oral and pharyngeal hypersensitivities to certain fruits. 1. Of 171 birch pollen CAP positive (score > or = 2) patients, twenty two (13%) were revealed to be hypersensitive to apples, eleven (6%) to be hypersensitive to peaches, both rates being higher than those found in patients with other CAP positive reactions (orchard grass pollen CAP, mugwort pollen CAP or Dermatophagoides pteronyssius CAP positive). 2. Among the birch pollen CAP positive patients, the higher the CAP score for birch pollen, the higher the prevalences of hypersensitivity to apples and peaches were found to be. 3. Of 171 birch pollen CAP positive patients, six (3.5%) were revealed to be hypersensitive to kiwi fruit. Of 253 patients with other CAP positive reactions, three (1%) were revealed to be hypersensitive to kiwi fruit.

Oral conditions in individuals with selective immunoglobulin A deficiency and common variable immunodeficiency.

Saliva and serum samples were collected from 36 individuals with selective immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgAd) and 23 patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVI). The oral examination included registration of the teeth, Russell's periodontal index (PI), pocket formation, and salivary flow rate in both unstimulated and stimulated saliva. No differences were found in salivary flow rate, number of teeth, or pocket depth when donors with IgAd or CVI were compared to age and sex matched controls. However, mucosal manifestations of lichenoid type were more frequent in both types of immunoglobulin deficient individuals. An increased PI was also seen in CVI patients. Increased serum IgG and salivary IgM levels were found in the IgAd population.

Immunology of premalignant and malignant conditions of the oral cavity. II. Circulating immune complexes.

Quantitation of circulating immune complexes (CIC) levels was established in patients with oral cancer and oral precancerous lesions. The levels were compared with that in normal controls and chronic chewers of betel quid with no signs of any disease. Both patients with oral cancer and oral precancerous lesions had elevated CIC when compared to both the control groups. The most interesting observations were (a) the CIC levels in the chewing controls were significantly raised when compared to normal controls; and (b) the CIC levels in the patients with premalignant lesions were elevated almost to the same levels as in the oral cancer patients.

[Seasonal burning palate in allergy against grass pollen]. / Saisonales Gaumenbrennen bei Allergie gegen Gräserpollen.

An immediate type I allergy elicited by IgE antibodies against pollen of grasses and cereals was demonstrated as the rare cause of palatinal stomatopyrosis (burning palate). The casual relationship was suggested through history and proven by skin, radioallergosorbent and exposition tests.