Nanomaterials-mediated photodynamic therapy and its applications in treating oral diseases.

Oral diseases, such as dental caries, periodontitis and oral cancer, have a very high morbidity over the world. Basically, many oral diseases are commonly related to bacterial infections or cell malignant proliferation, and usually located on the superficial positions. These features allow the convenient and efficient application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for oral diseases, since PDT is ideally suitable for the diseases on superficial sites and has been widely used for antimicrobial and anticancer therapy. Photosensitizers (PSs) are an essential element in PDT, which induce the generation of a large number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon absorption of specific lights. Almost all the PSs are small molecules and commonly suffered from various problems in the PDT environment, such as low solubility and poor stability. Recently, reports on the nanomedicine-based PDT have been well documented. Various functionalized nanomaterials can serve either as the PSs carriers or the direct PSs, thus enhancing the PDT efficacy. Herein, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the features of different oral diseases and discuss the potential applications of nanomedicine-based PDT in the treatment of some common oral diseases. Also, the concerns and possible solutions for nanomaterials-mediated PDT are discussed.

Advancement in therapeutic strategies for immune-mediated oral diseases.

BACKGROUND: Immune-mediated diseases are a diverse group of conditions characterized by alteration of cellular homeostasis and inflammation triggered by dysregulation of the normal immune response. Several immune-mediated diseases exhibit oral signs and symptoms. Traditionally, these conditions are treated with corticosteroids or immunosuppressive agents, including azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and thalidomide. Recent research into the developmental pathways of these diseases has led to the exploration of novel approaches in treatment. This review examines newer treatment modalities for the management of immune-mediated diseases with oral presentations. Topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus have been employed successfully in managing oral lichen planus and pemphigus vulgaris. Biologic agents, comprising monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, and recombinant cytokines, can provide targeted therapy with fewer adverse effects. Neutraceutical agents comprising aloe vera, curcumin, and honey are commonly used in traditional medicine and offer a holistic approach. They may have a place as adjuvants to current standard therapeutic protocols. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) utilize a specific wavelength of light to achieve desired cellular change. While the use of PDT in immune-mediated diseases is contentious, LLLT has shown positive results. Newer therapeutic modalities involve kinase inhibitors, S1P1 receptor modulators, MSCs, and iRNA providing targeted treatment of specific diseases.

Ethnobotanical survey about medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of insomnia, asthenia, and oral and gum infections in the region Fez-Meknes, Morocco.

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted among herbalists in the north-central region of Morocco using a questionnaire in order to highlight knowledge and know-how and to establish an inventory of herbal remedies used in the treatment of diseases common in the region and rarely cited in the bibliography: in this case, it is insomnia, asthenia, and oral-gum infections. The results showed that 120 herbalists were interviewed in different areas of the Fez-Meknes region, about 86 species were cited and grouped into 60 families (47 plants to treat asthenia, 25 to treat insomnia, and 21 to treat oral and gum infections). The reported plants have been identified and presented with the binomial name, family, part used, and method of preparation. In addition, the versatility was observed in several plants, indicating that the same plant could be used to treat conditions of different groups. Herbalists are people of both sexes belonging to different age groups and have different socioeconomic and intellectual levels. Eighty percent of surveyed herbalists are willing to provide us information about plants in the studied area. The most cited plants for treating these diseases are Lavandula dentata, Matricaria chamomilla, Rosmarinus officinalis, Allium cepa, Origanum vulgare, Origanum majorana, Marrubium vulgare, Lepidium sativum, and Ocimum basilicum. The Lamiaceae are the most quoted family. The leaves are the most commonly used organs. Infusion is the most common form of preparation. The results of this ethnobotanical study could constitute an important source of information and databases for further research in the fields of phytochemistry and pharmacology in order to find new bioactive molecules. In addition, this document can be used in the protection of indigenous knowledge.

Cannabis. Usos y aplicaciones en la práctica odontológica diaria: revisión de la literatura / Cannabis. Uses and applications in daily dental practice: a review of the literature

La evidencia científica presente en la literatura indica que el cannabis puede ser utilizado con fines terapéuticos para tratar distintas afecciones odontológicas. Dado el acceso sencillo a la cavidad bucal, las distintas formulaciones de cannabis pueden aplicarse de forma tópica. La aplicación local de dosis bajas de cannabis ha demostrado alta efectividad para tratar distintas afecciones bucales, constituyendo un tratamiento seguro con baja probabilidad de generar repercusiones sistémicas indeseadas. En la actualidad, está siendo incorporado a materiales convencionales de uso e higiene odontológica con la finalidad de aprovechar sus efectos terapéuticos. El cannabis tiene múltiples usos en odontología: como componen-te de enjuagues bucales y soluciones para la desinfección de conductos radiculares, en tratamientos de trastornos de ansiedad bucal, como complemento en terapias oncológicas, como analgésico para atenuar el dolor inflamatorio y el neuropático, como miorrelajante y condroprotector para tratar trastornos de articulación témporomandibular (ATM) y bruxismo, como osteomodulador para el tratamiento de patologías que comprometen la integridad ósea, como la enfermedad periodontal y la osteoporosis, y para la cicatrización ósea asociada a fracturas, extracciones dentarias e implantes, y como inmunomodulador con potencial terapéutico para tratar patologías autoinmunes como las enfermedades reumáticas. El trata-miento local con cannabis es efectivo, bien tolerado por el paciente y con pocos efectos adversos. Por lo tanto, se puede concluir que el cannabis aporta un enorme abanico de posibilidades terapéuticas para tratar distintas afecciones odontológicas, aunque aún se requiere mayor cantidad de estudios científicos que avalen su utilización en cada situación fisiopatológica particular (AU)

The scientific evidence present in the literature indicates that cannabis can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat different dental conditions. Given the easy access to the oral cavity, the different cannabis formulations can be applied topically. The local application of low doses of cannabis has shown high effectiveness in treating different oral conditions, constituting a safe treatment with a low probability of generating unwanted systemic repercussions. It is currently being incorporated into conventional materials for dental use and hygiene in order to take advantage of its therapeutic effects. Cannabis has multiple uses in dentistry: as a component of mouthwashes and solutions for disinfecting root canals, in the treatment of oral anxiety disorders, as a complement in oncological therapies, as an analgesic to reduce inflammatory and neuropathic pain, as a muscle relaxant and chondroprotective to treat temporomandibular joint disorders and bruxism, as an osteomodulator for the treatment of pathologies that compromise bone integrity, such as periodontal disease and osteoporosis, and or bone healing associated with fractures, dental extractions and implants, and as immunomodulator with therapeutic potential to treat autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatic diseases. Local treatment with cannabis is effective, well tolerated by the patient and with few adverse effects. Local treatment with cannabis is effective, well tolerated by the patient and with few adverse effects. Therefore, it can be concluded that cannabis provides an enormous range of therapeutic possibilities to treat different dental conditions, although more scientific studies are still required to support its use in each particular pathophysiological situation (AU)

The Influence of Propolis on Dental Plaque Reduction and the Correlation between Dental Plaque and Severity of COVID-19 Complications-A Literature Review.

Current studies suggest that cariogenic bacteria in dental plaque influence the severity of COVID-19 complications since the oral cavity is a reservoir for respiratory pathogens potentially responsible for the development of hospital-acquired pneumonia. This article focuses on the association between dental plaque and COVID-19 concerning the influence of altered oral biofilm on the risk of increased severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, it concentrates on the usefulness of propolis, with its apitherapeutic antibacterial properties, for treating oral bacterial infections co-occurring with SARS-CoV-2 infection. A review of the literature on PubMed, Cochrane Library and Medline between 2000 and 2021 revealed 56 published articles indicating that a link between dental plaque and COVID-19 complications was probable. Furthermore, they indicated that propolis may minimize COVID-19 severity by reducing dental plaque accumulation. The possibility that improved oral health could reduce the risk of COVID-19 complications should be of interest to scientists.

Activities of Nerol, a natural plant active ingredient, against Candida albicans in vitro and in vivo.

Candida albicans invasion is one of the most serious fungal infections in clinical history. In recent years, because of the widespread use of immunosuppressive drugs, chemotherapy drugs, glucocorticoids, and broad-spectrum antibiotics, serious drug resistance has been reported; therefore, a new type of antifungal drug needs to be developed. In this study, we found that Nerol (NEL) had strong antimicrobial activity and 0.77 µL/mL NEL was the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) effective against C. albicans. We determined the change of the growth curve of NEL for C. albicans, to identify the trend of NEL activity against C. albicans. Through the determination of the ergosterol content and glucose-induced extracellular fluid acidification of NEL on C. albicans, we found that NEL inhibits the growth of C. albicans by destroying cell membranes. This finding was also supported by the expression of SAP (secreted aspartyl proteinase) involved in cell membrane synthesis. Finally, demonstrations of phenotype investigation, colony-forming unit (CFU) counts, and PAS (periodic acid-Schiff) staining were conducted to prove that NEL had the ability to treated mouse oral C. albicans infection and vaginal C. albicans infection. This research may help us to investigate new antimicrobial agents for treating C. albicans infections. KEY POINTS: • NEL can inhibit the growth of C. albicans. • NEL destroys the cell membrane formation and permeability of C. albicans. • NEL can treat vulvovaginal candidiasis and oropharyngeal candidiasis in mice. • NEL could be used as a possible antifungal agent.

Cannabidiol As A Novel Therapeutic Strategy For Oral Inflammatory Diseases: A Review Of Current Knowledge And Future Perspectives.

The high frequency and painful profile of inflammatory oral lesions and the lack of an effective drug protocol for their management stimulate the search for pharmacological alternatives for the treatment of these conditions. Cannabidiol is the major non-psychotropic constituent of Cannabis sativa, receiving lately scientific interest because of its potential in the treatment of inflammatory disorders such as asthma, colitis and arthritis. There is little published in the current literature about the use of cannabidiol in oral health. Among its many protective functions, the ability to attenuate inflammation through the modulation of cytokines and its antiedema and analgesic effects may be important features in the treatment of oral lesions. In this review, we suggest that cannabidiol can be useful in the management of oral inflammatory disorders.

Unusual presentation of a disseminated oral HPV infection after combined antiretroviral therapy initiation.

HPV clinical manifestations have their characteristics modified by the use of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), although its incidence is unaffected by cART. We report an unusual presentation of oral HPV infection and discuss an effective treatment for disseminated HPV lesions. A 52-year-old male of Asian-origin, HIV-seropositive, presented with extensive nodular lesions throughout the oral mucosa extending to the oropharyngeal region. Biopsy followed by histopathological examination and HPV genotyping were performed. The treatment was initiated with topical application of podophyllin and trichloroacetic acid. HPV lesions in oral mucosa are generally easy to handle. Extensive lesions can make it difficult to choose an effective treatment that meets the patient's particularities and medication availability.

Medicamentos en pacientes con riesgo quirúrgico y su repercusión en Estomatología / Medicine use in surgery risk patients and repercussion in Dentistry

RESUMEN • Introducción: Con el envejecimiento creciente de la población, la práctica estomatológica exige la utilización del conocimiento para identificar y tratar pacientes con enfermedades sistémicas cada vez más frecuentes, lo cual puede requerir el uso de medicamentos capaces de interactuar con el tratamiento farmacológico de su enfermedad de base. La literatura refleja esta relación de manera fragmentada y carente de un enfoque sistémico. Objetivo: Identificar en la literatura el uso de medicamentos en pacientes con riesgo quirúrgico y describir su repercusión durante el tratamiento estomatológico. Material y Métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica y se consultaron artículos científicos, tesis de titulación de especialistas, maestrías y doctorales entre otras referencias principalmente de los últimos 5 años mediante Google. Desarrollo: Se abordan las generalidades, manejo estomatológico y las interacciones medicamentosas de cada una de las enfermedades a estudiar (Diabetes Mellitus, hipertensión arterial y cardiopatía), así como las situaciones que requieren profilaxis antibiótica. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con riesgo quirúrgico utilizan medicamentos que producen interacciones importantes con fármacos como AINES, anestésicos locales y glucocorticoides que habitualmente se emplean en los tratamientos estomatológicos; existen además enfermedades sistémicas en las cuales hay que tener en cuenta la profilaxis antibiótica antes de realizar determinados procederes estomatológicos.

ABSTRACT • Introduction: With the growing of population aging, the dental practice requires the adequate knowledge to identify and treat patients with increasingly frequent systemic diseases, which may require the use of drugs capable of interacting with the pharmacological treatment of their underlying diseases. The literature reflects this relationship in a fragmented manner and lacking a systemic approach. Objective: To identify the drugs used in risk patients undergoing surgery and describe their repercussion during dental treatment. Material and Method: A bibliographic review was carried out. Scientific articles, specialists´ theses, Master´s and PhD degrees among other references were consulted, mainly the ones obtained from the search carried out in Google during the last 5 years. Results: The generalities, dental management and drug interactions between the diseases studied (diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and heart disease) were addressed, as well as the situations that require antibiotic prophylaxis. Conclusions: The surgical risk patients studied use drugs that produce important interactions with drugs such as NSAIDs, local anesthetics and glucocorticoids that are usually used in dental treatments. There are also systemic diseases in which antibiotic prophylaxis must be taken into account before performing certain dental procedures.

A combination of photodynamic therapy and antimicrobial compounds to treat skin and mucosal infections: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a growing approach to treat skin and mucosal infections. Despite its effectiveness, investigators have explored whether aPDT can be further combined with antibiotics and antifungal drugs. OBJECTIVE: To systematically assess the in vivo studies on the effectiveness of combinations of aPTD plus antimicrobials in the treatment of cutaneous and mucosal infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Searches were performed in four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library databases, ClinicaTrials.gov) until July 2018. The pooled information was evaluated according to the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: 11 full-text articles were finally evaluated and included. The best aPDT combinations involved 5-aminolevulinic acid or phenothiazinium dye-based aPDT. In general, the combination shows benefits such as reducing treatment times, lowering drug dosages, decreasing drug toxicity, improving patient compliance and diminishing the risk of developing resistance. The mechanism of action may be that first aPDT damages the microbial cell wall or membrane, which allows better penetration of the antimicrobial drug. LIMITATIONS: The number of studies was low, the protocols used were heterogeneous, and there was a lack of clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS: The additive or synergistic effect of aPDT combined with antimicrobials could be promising to manage skin and mucosal infections, helping to overcome the microbial drug resistance.

Use of natural remedies to treat oral diseases among female patients in Al Madinah, western Saudi Arabia.

Background The study aimed to investigate natural remedies use (NRU) for oral diseases among female patients. Methods Dental patients attending the female section of Taibah University Dental Hospital were invited to complete an online questionnaire which explored demographic data, and pattern of NRU for oral diseases. Results A total of 540 patients participated in the survey. A total of 232 patients (43%) used natural remedies to treat oral diseases. The most commonly cited reasons for NRU were financial reasons (n=79, 34.1%). The practice had a statistically significant association with older participants (p=0.003), and those working as employees (p=0.031). Most of the natural remedies used (n=17) were herbal, with cloves (71.1%) and miswak (26.7%) being the most frequently reported. Acute dental pain (n=157, 67.7%) and halitosis (n= 51, 22%) were the most frequently cited oral conditions associated with NRU. A percentage of 87.1% of patients using natural remedies (n=202) perceived improvement of symptoms upon use of natural remedies, however, 2.2% (n=5) reported complications. Conclusions Substantial proportion of patients use natural remedies to treat their oral disease. Patients were mostly satisfied with natural remedies in terms of effectiveness and lack of complications.

Potential Application of Ixeris dentata in the Prevention and Treatment of Aging-Induced Dry Mouth.

Dry mouth is a common complaint among the elderly population. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Ixeris dentata (IXD) extract on aging-induced dry mouth. We used young (two months) and aged (20 months) SD rats in our study. Using water as the vehicle, IXD extract (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) was given via oral gavage to the young and aged rats for eight weeks. We found that the salivary flow rate relative to the submandibular gland weight was differently influenced by IXD extract treatment. IXD extract augmented the submandibular gland acinar cells, which are depleted during aging. In addition, the decreased salivary alpha-amylase, inositol triphosphate receptor, and aquaporin-5 in the aging rats were upregulated by IXD treatment. Free radical-induced oxidative stress in the aging rats was also alleviated in the IXD-treated group. The formation of high molecular weight complexes of protein disulfide isomerase, decreased expression of an ER chaperone (GRP78), and increased ER stress response (ATF-4, CHOP and p-JNK) in aging rats was regulated with IXD treatment, and eventually increased salivary secretions from the aging submandibular glands. These are the first data to suggest that IXD extract might ameliorate aging-associated oral dryness by regulating the ER environment.

Thymus essential oil extraction, characterization and incorporation in phospholipid vesicles for the antioxidant/antibacterial treatment of oral cavity diseases.

The aim of the work was to extract, characterize, and formulate Thymus capitatus (Tymbra capitata) essential oil in phospholipid vesicles: liposomes, glycerosomes and Penetration Enhancer-containing Vesicles (PEVs). The steam-distilled essential oil was mainly composed of carvacrol. The oil was mixed with lecithin and water to produce liposomes, or different ratios of water/glycerol or water/propylene glycol (PG) to produce glycerosomes and PG-PEVs, respectively. Cryo-TEM showed the formation of unilamellar, spherical vesicles, and light scattering disclosed that their size increased in the presence of glycerol or PG, which improved long-term stability. The formulations were highly biocompatible, and capable of counteracting oxidative stress and favouring wound repair in keratinocytes, thanks to enhanced uptake. The antibacterial activity of the oil was demonstrated against cariogenic Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and commensal Streptococcus sanguinis. The combination of antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Thymus essential oil formulations may be useful for the treatment of oral cavity diseases.

Learning from clinical phenotypes: Low-dose biophotonics therapies in oral diseases.

This narrative review on the use of biophotonics therapies for management of oral diseases is written as a tribute to Prof. Crispian Scully. His seminal contributions to the field are highlighted by the detailed, comprehensive description of clinical presentations of oral diseases. This has enabled a more thorough, fundamental understanding of many of these pathologies by research from his group as well as inspired mechanistic investigations in many groups globally. In the same vein, a major emphasis of this narrative review is to focus on the evidence from human case reports rather than in vitro or in vivo animal studies that showcases the growing and broad impact of biophotonics therapies. The similarities and differences between two distinct forms of low-dose biophotonics treatments namely photodynamic therapy and photobiomodulation therapy are discussed. As evident in this review, a majority of these reports provide promising evidence for their clinical efficacy. However, a lack of adequate technical details, precise biological rationale, and limited outcome measures limits the current utility of these treatments. Future investigations should attempt to address these shortcomings and develop better designed, rigorous, controlled studies to fully harness the tremendous potential of low-dose biophotonics therapies.

Anti-oral common pathogenic bacterial active acetylenic acids from Thesium chinense Turcz.

Discovery of agents for oral infectious diseases is always encouraged in natural products chemistry. A bioassay-guided isolation led to the isolation of two new acetylenic acids (1, 2) along with seven known ones (3-9) from the ethanol extract of Thesium chinense Turcz, a commonly used oral anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory herb. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence. Exocarpic acid (3) demonstrated the most promising activity against three tested oral pathogenic bacterial strains, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Streptococcus mutans, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 0.86, 3.43, and 13.70 µg/mL, respectively. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 also showed potential activities against periodontal bacteria (P. gingivalis, F. nucleatum).

Is the routine practice of antibiotic prescription and microbial culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing justified in primary maxillofacial space infection patients? A prospective, randomized clinical study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this prospective, randomized, comparative clinical study was to compare treatment outcome of removal of foci and incision and drainage, with or without oral antibiotic therapy, in the management of single primary maxillofacial space infection with a known focus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients with single primary maxillofacial space infection with a known infectious focus were divided into two groups, one treated with incision and drainage only, and the other with incision and drainage along with oral antibiotics. The focus of infection was addressed in both groups. Parameters evaluated included pain score, maximum mouth opening, swelling, purulent discharge and return to normal life, which were assessed on days 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7. The patients were followed up until they reported return to normal life as assessed by a questionnaire. RESULTS: All of the patients rapidly responded to treatment as observed by a reduction in pain, swelling, discharge, and improvement in mouth opening. Pus discharge stopped within first 3 days in 75% of patients. The patients who underwent immediate extraction showed a faster resolution of infection (mean return to normal life = 9 days) than others (mean = 11.2 days). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for the five study parameters (p < 0.05). Of the total pus specimens, 75% had no significant bacterial growth, or grew 'oral flora'/contaminants, while only 25% grew specific bacteria. CONCLUSION: This study questions the conventional practice by dental practitioners and surgeons of prescribing antibiotics to all patients with odontogenic infection. Microbial culture and antibiotic sensitivity is of little therapeutic value in selected patient groups.

Curcumin-mediated Photodynamic Therapy for the treatment of oral infections-A review.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidences show the promising applications of Curcumin (CUR) against different diseases, including some of the main oral pathologies. The objective of this review paper was to catalog articles that investigated the photodynamic effect of CUR for oral diseases in the last 15 years. METHODS: The establishment of defined criteria for data collection was proposed and a total of 173 articles were identified, but only 26 were eligible for full text reading. Their main findings were critically reviewed to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the use of CUR in Dentistry. RESULTS: Antimicrobial potential of CUR was the subject of the majority of the articles. CUR showed great potential for photodynamic action against oral bacteria, fungi, and strains resistant to conventional drugs. Some authors indicated the efficacy of CUR-mediated Photodynamic Therapy to reduce tumor cells while others observed low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells and healthy oral mucosa. However, CUR solubility and stability is still a problem for the photodynamic technique, and to overcome these drawbacks, biocompatible vehicles need to be better explored. CONCLUSIONS: Investigations have used different CUR concentrations and formulations, as well as different light parameters. This fact, together with the lack of in vivo studies, clearly shows that clinical protocols have not been established yet. Investigations are necessary in order to establish the best concentrations and safe vehicles to be used for this technique.

An in vitro investigation of indigenous South African medicinal plants used to treat oral infections.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Over a 120 South African medicinal plants are used for the treatment of oral diseases. Despite the vast collection of antimicrobial studies being done on South African plants, there is still limited research on pathogens associated with oral infections. In consultation with the available ethnobotanical literature, this study investigates the antimicrobial efficacy of some South African medicinal plants against oral pathogens. AIM OF THE STUDY: To provide a detailed account of the antimicrobial properties of selected South African medicinal plants used traditionally to treat oral infections. The effect on Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation and the toxicity profiles of these plants are also investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 136 aqueous and organic extracts and six essential oils were prepared from 31 different plant species. These plant samples were screened for antimicrobial efficacy against nine oral pathogens using the micro-titre plate dilution assay. Plant extracts that were found to have noteworthy antimicrobial activity against S. mutans were further evaluated on the effect on S. mutans biofilm formation using the glass slide technique. The toxicity profiles of plant samples that were found to have noteworthy antimicrobial activity were evaluated using the brine shrimp lethality assay. RESULTS: The organic extract of Cissampelos torulosa stems displayed the lowest MIC value of 0.05mg/mL against both Lactobacillus spp. This high antimicrobial activity was also observed with the organic extract of Spirostachys africana leaves against Candida albicans. In some instances, a direct relationship was found between the traditional use of the plant and the antimicrobial activity observed. For example, noteworthy activity (MIC < 1.00mg/mL) was observed against all three Candida spp. when tested against Clematis brachiata (leaves), a plant traditionally used to treat oral thrush. Englerophytum magalismonatanum stems displayed notable activity against both Streptococcus spp. (MIC 0.83mg/mL against S. mutans and MIC 0.67mg/mL against S. sanguis). Spirostachys africana leaves displayed the greatest anti-adherent properties against S. mutans biofilm formation at both 24 and 48h, reducing the biofilm by 97.56% and 86.58% respectively. The majority of plant samples tested in the brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA) were considered safe, however, 13 plant samples were considered toxic, at a concentration of 1mg/mL. CONCLUSION: Noteworthy antimicrobial activity for plants species such as C. brachiata and E. magalismonatnum provides validation for the traditional use of these plants. Spirostachys africana displayed the greatest reduction of adherent S. mutans cells. The BSLA results revealed that the majority of the plant samples were not toxic in nature. The findings from the results favour the potential use of these plants in treating oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontal diseases and oral thrush.

Amhezole, A Novel Fungal Secondary Metabolite from Aspergillus terreus for Treatment of Microbial Mouth Infection.

Bio-guided fractionation of Aspergillus terreus extract leads to isolation of a novel terpenoidal secondary metabolite. The isolated compound and the total alcoholic extract of Aspergillus terreus showed a remarkable activity against microbial mouth infections; namely, Candida albicans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus gordonii, and S. mutan. Moreover, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of the isolated compound was determined and showed low values. The combination of each of the alcoholic extract of A. terreus and the isolated compound Coe-Comfort tissue conditioner inhibited the growth of Candida albicans at concentrations of 500 and 7.81 µg/mL, respectively, Lactobacillus acidophilus at concentrations of 250 and 7.81 µg/mL, respectively, Streptococcus gordonii at concentrations of 1000 and 62.50 µg/mL, respectively, and S. mutans at concentrations of 1000 and 125 µg/mL, respectively. The oral dosing of the extract and the isolated compound did not show any significant effect on the activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspirate aminotransferase, and the levels of blood urea and serum creatinine. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.