Does scientific evidence for the use of natural products in the treatment of oral candidiasis exist? A systematic review.

In view of the limitations of antifungal agents used in the treatment of oral candidiasis and the wide variety of natural products that have been studied as treatment of this disease, this systematic literature review proposed to evaluate whether scientific evidence attesting to the efficacy of natural products in the treatment of this disease exists. A systematic search in PubMed, MEDLINE, SciELO, Lilacs, and Cochrane Library databases was accomplished using the associations among the keywords Candida albicans, phytotherapy, biological products, denture stomatitis, and oral candidiasis in both English and Portuguese. Four independent observers evaluated the methodological quality of the resulting articles. Three studies were included for detailed analysis and evaluated according to the analysis protocol based on the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) 2010 statement. The tested products were different in all studies. Two studies mentioned random samples, but no study described the sample allocation. No study mentioned sample calculations, a prior pilot study, or examiner calibration, and only one trial reported sample losses. Differences between the tested products and the methodological designs among these studies did not allow the existence of scientific evidence related to the effectiveness of these products for the proposed subjects to be confirmed.

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Schinus terebinthifolius Mouthwash to Treat Biofilm-Induced Gingivitis.

Objectives. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a Schinus terebinthifolius (ST) mouthwash in reducing gingival inflammation levels (GI) and biofilm accumulation (BA) in children with gingivitis. Methods. This was a randomized, controlled, triple blind, and phase II clinical trial, with children aged 9-13 years (n = 27) presenting with biofilm-induced gingivitis. The sample was randomized into experimental (0.3125% ST, n = 14) and control (0.12% chlorhexidine/CHX, n = 13) groups. Products were masked as regards color, flavor and aroma. Intervention protocol consisted in supervised rinsing of 10 mL/day for 01 minute for 10 days. Gingival bleeding and simplified oral hygiene indexes were used to assess the efficacy variables, measured at baseline and after intervention by calibrated examiners. Data were statistically treated with paired t-test, unpaired t-test, and Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests ( α = .05). Results. It was found that both ST and CHX were able to significantly reduce GI levels after 10 days (P < 0.001) and there was no significant difference between them (P > 0.05). CHX was the only product able to significantly reduce BA after 10 days when compared to baseline (P < 0.05). Conclusion. ST mouthwash showed significant anti-inflammatory activity (equivalent to CHX), but it was not able to reduce biofilm accumulation.

Atividade antibacteriana in vitro de fitoconstituintes sobre micorganismos do biofilme dentário / In vitro antibacterial activity of phytochemicals on dental biofilm microorganisms

Objetivo: Avaliar in vitro a atividade antimicrobiana docitronelol, linalol, timol e D-limoneno frente a Streptococcus mutans, S. salivarius e S. oralis. Materiale Métodos: Realizou-se um screening pela técnica de difusão em meio sólido. Discos de papel absorvente foram em bebidos com 30 μL da substância-teste e dispostos em placas dePetri contendo Ágar Müeller Hinton previamente semeadas com inóculo bacteriano. Após incubação por 24h a 37ºC, foi realizada a mensuração dos halos de inibição do crescimento bacteriano com auxílio de um paquímetro manual. A clorexidina2% foi utilizada como controle positivo. O estudo foi realizado em triplicata. Resultados: O citronelol obteve média do diâmetro dos halos, em milímetros (mm), para S. mutans, S.oralis e S. salivarius, respectivamente: 10.7, 10.0 e 9.8. Otimol, para a mesma sequência de microorganismos: 7.3, 7.3e 8.3 mm. O D-limoneno exibiu médias de 8.0, 6.7 e 6.0 mmpara S. mutans, S. oralis e S. salivarius, respectivamente.Mensurou-se médias dos halos de 8.0, 9.0 e 8.2 mm, para os mesmos microorganismos, quando testado o linalol. Aclorexidina, por sua vez, apresentou média dos diâmetros dos halos de 17 mm para S. mutans, 16.8 mm para S. oralis e19.7 mm para S. salivarius. Conclusão: Os produtos avaliados apresentaram atividade antibacteriana,representando possíveis substâncias com aplicabilidade na prevenção da cárie dentária.

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity ofcitronellol, linalool, thymol, and D-limonene againstStreptococcus mutans, S. salivarius and S. oralis. Materialand Methods: It was performed a screening by the diffusiontechnique on solid medium. Absorbent paper discs weresoaked with 30 μl of the tested substance and then placedon petri dishes containing Mueller Hinton agar previously sownwith the bacterial inoculum. After incubation for 24 h at 37 °C,it was measured the halo of growth inhibition with the aid ofa manual caliper. Chlorhexidine (2%) was used as positivecontrol. Tests were performed in triplicate. Results: Forcitronellol, the means of the diameters of the halos, in millimeters (mm), were 10.7, 10.0, and 9.8 against S. mutans,S. salivarius and S. oralis respectively. The values foundfor thymol were 7.3, 7.3 and 8.3 mm, respectively. Thephytochemical D-limonene exhibited means of 8.0, 6.7 and6.0 mm, respectively. For linalool, the means of the haloswere 8.0 mm, 9.0 mm and 8.2 mm. Chlorhexidine was foundto show means of 17, 16.8 and 19.7 mm on S. mutans, S.oralis and S. salivarius respectively. Conclusion: The products under test showed antibacterial activity, being therefore potential substances to be applied for dental caries prevention.