Antibiofilm efficacy of tea tree oil and of its main component terpinen-4-ol against Candida albicans.

Candida infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The increase in its incidence has been associated with resistance to antimicrobial therapy and biofilm formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tea tree oil (TTO) and its main component - terpinen-4-ol - against resistant Candida albicans strains (genotypes A and B) identified by molecular typing and against C. albicans ATCC 90028 and SC 5314 reference strains in planktonic and biofilm cultures. The minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration, and rate of biofilm development were used to evaluate antifungal activity. Results were obtained from analysis of the biofilm using the cell proliferation assay 2,3-Bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Terpinen-4-ol and TTO inhibited C. albicans growth. CLSM confirmed that 17.92 mg/mL of TTO and 8.86 mg/mL of terpinen-4-ol applied for 60 s (rinse simulation) interfered with biofilm formation. Hence, this in vitro study revealed that natural substances such as TTO and terpinen-4-ol present promising results for the treatment of oral candidiasis.

Antibiofilm efficacy of tea tree oil and of its main component terpinen-4-ol against Candida albicans

Abstract Candida infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The increase in its incidence has been associated with resistance to antimicrobial therapy and biofilm formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tea tree oil (TTO) and its main component - terpinen-4-ol - against resistant Candida albicans strains (genotypes A and B) identified by molecular typing and against C. albicans ATCC 90028 and SC 5314 reference strains in planktonic and biofilm cultures. The minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration, and rate of biofilm development were used to evaluate antifungal activity. Results were obtained from analysis of the biofilm using the cell proliferation assay 2,3-Bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Terpinen-4-ol and TTO inhibited C. albicans growth. CLSM confirmed that 17.92 mg/mL of TTO and 8.86 mg/mL of terpinen-4-ol applied for 60 s (rinse simulation) interfered with biofilm formation. Hence, this in vitro study revealed that natural substances such as TTO and terpinen-4-ol present promising results for the treatment of oral candidiasis.

Positive influence of simvastatin used as adjuvant agent for cavity lining.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the biological, antimicrobial, and mechanical effects of the treatment of deep dentin with simvastatin (SV) before application of a glass-ionomer cement (GIC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dentin discs were adapted to artificial pulp chambers and SV (2.5 or 1.0 mg/mL) was applied to the occlusal surface, either previously conditioned or not with EDTA (±EDTA). The extracts (culture medium + SV that diffused through dentin) was obtained and then applied to cultured odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells. Cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and mineralization nodule (MN) deposition were evaluated. Untreated discs were used as control. The antibacterial activity of SV (2.5 or 1.0 mg/mL) against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus, as well as the bond strength of GIC to dentin in the presence of SV 2.5 mg/mL (±EDTA) were also assessed. The data were analyzed by ANOVA/Tukey tests (α = 5%). RESULTS: EDTA + SV 2.5 mg/mL significantly enhanced the ALP activity and MN deposition in comparison with the control, without changing in the cell viability (p < 0.05). The association EDTA + SV 2.5 mg/mL + GIC determined the highest ALP and MN values (p < 0.05). SV presented intense antimicrobial activity, and the EDTA dentin conditioning followed by SV application increased bond strength values compared with SV treatment alone (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SV presents antimicrobial activity and diffuses across conditioned dentin to biostimulate odontoblast-like pulp cells. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of SV as adjuvant agent for indirect pulp capping may biostimulate pulp cells thus preserving vitality and function of the pulp-dentin complex.

Antimicrobial effects of terpinen-4-ol against oral pathogens and its capacity for the modulation of gene expression.

This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of terpinen-4-ol against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus and its influence on gbpA (S. mutans) and slpA (L. acidophilus) gene expression. As measured by XTT assay, the concentrations of terpinen-4-ol that effectively inhibited the biofilm were 0.24% and 0.95% for S. mutans and L. acidophilus, respectively. Confocal microscopy revealed the presence of a biofilm attached to the enamel and dentin block surfaces with significant terpinen-4-ol effects against these microorganisms. The expression of the gbpA and slpA genes involved in adherence and biofilm formation was investigated using RT-PCR. Expression of these genes decreased after 15 min with 0.24% and 0.95% terpinen-4-ol in S. mutans and L. acidophilus, respectively. These findings demonstrate the antimicrobial activity of terpinen-4-ol and its ability to modulate the expression of gbpA and slpA genes, emphasizing the therapeutic capacity of terpinen-4-ol as an alternative to inhibit adherence in biofilm.

Bioestimulação de células pulpares humanas expostas a sinvastatina / Biostimulation of human pulp cells exposed to simvastatin

O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o potencial bioativo da sinvastatina (SV), aplicada por diferentes períodos sobre células da polpa dental humana (HDPCs). Para isto, HDPCs em 80% de confluência (n=6) foram tratadas com meio osteogênico suplementado com 0,01 µM de SV pelos períodos de 24 h, 72 h ou continuamente por até 21 dias. No controle negativo, as células foram mantidas em meio osteogênico. A viabilidade celular (MTT) foi avaliada em períodos de 1, 3, 7, 14 e 21 dias, e a deposição de matriz mineralizada (alizarin red) após 14 e 21 dias de cultivo celular. Os dados foram submetidos aos testes ANOVA e Tukey (α=5%). Foi observado que nos períodos de 1, 3, 7 e 14 dias não houve diferença significativa na viabilidade das células submetidas aos tratamentos com SV em comparação ao controle (p<0,05); no entanto, redução tardia foi observada aos 21 dias para as células tratadas com SV por 72 h ou de modo contínuo (p<0,05). Em contrapartida, aumento na deposição de matriz mineralizada foi observado para o tratamento contínuo com SV aos 21 dias, quando comparado ao controle (p<0,05). Foi possível concluir que o tratamento contínuo de células pulpares humanas com 0,01µM de SV foi capaz de bioestimular a deposição de matriz mineralizada in vitro.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the bioactive potential of simvastatin (SV), applied during different periods on human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). For this, HDPCs at 80% confluency (n = 6) were treated with osteogenic medium supplemented with 0.01 µM SV for periods of 24 h, 72 h or continuously up to 21 days. In the negative control group, the cells were cultivated in osteogenic medium. The cell viability (MTT) was evaluated after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days, and the mineralized matrix deposition (alizarin red) was assessed at 14 and 21 days of cell culture. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=5%). No significant difference in cell viability was observed at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days for the cells exposed to SV compared to negative control (p<0.05); however, significant reduction was observed at 21 days for cells treated with SV during 72 h or continuously (p<0.05). On the other hand, increase in mineralized matrix deposition at 21 days was observed for cells treated continuously with SV when compared to control (p<0.05). It was possible to conclude that the continuous treatment of human pulp cells with 0.01 µM of SV was able to biostimulate mineralized matrix deposition in vitro.