Bioinformatical and in vitro approaches to essential oil-induced matrix metalloproteinase inhibition.

CONTEXT: Essential oils carry diverse antimicrobial and anti-enzymatic properties. OBJECTIVE: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition characteristics of Salvia fruticosa Miller (Labiatae), Myrtus communis Linnaeus (Myrtaceae), Juniperus communis Linnaeus (Cupressaceae), and Lavandula stoechas Linnaeus (Labiatae) essential oils were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chemical compositions of the essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Bioinformatical database analysis was performed by STRING 9.0 and STITCH 2.0 databases, and ViaComplex software. Antibacterial activity of essential oils against periodontopathogens was tested by the disc diffusion assay and the agar dilution method. Cellular proliferation and cytotoxicity were determined by commercial kits. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were measured by zymography. RESULTS: Bioinformatical database analyses, under a score of 0.4 (medium) and a prior correction of 0.0, gave rise to a model of protein (MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases) vs. chemical (essential oil components) interaction network; where MMPs and essential oil components interconnected through interaction with hydroxyl radicals, molecular oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide. Components from L. stoechas potentially displayed a higher grade of interaction with MMP-2 and -9. Although antibacterial and growth inhibitory effects of essential oils on the tested periodontopathogens were limited, all of them inhibited MMP-2 in vitro at concentrations of 1 and 5 µL/mL. Moreover, same concentrations of M. communis and L. stoechas also inhibited MMP-9. MMP-inhibiting concentrations of essential oils were not cytotoxic against keratinocytes. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We propose essential oils of being useful therapeutic agents as MMP inhibitors through a mechanism possibly based on their antioxidant potential.

Anti-biofilm properties of Satureja hortensis L. essential oil against periodontal pathogens.

Essential oils of several plants are widely used in ethnomedicine for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, very limited data exist on their use in connection to periodontal diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the bacterial growth inhibiting and anti-biofilm effects of Satureja hortensis L. (summer savory), Salvia fruticosa M. (sage), Lavandula stoechas L. (lavender), Myrtus communis L., and Juniperus communis L. (juniper) essential oils. Chemical compositions of the essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, minimum inhibitor concentrations (MICs) with the agar dilution method, and anti-biofilm effects by the microplate biofilm assay. The toxicity of each essential oil was tested on cultured keratinocytes. Of the 5 essential oils, S. hortensis L. essential oil had the strongest growth inhibition effect. Subinhibitory dose of S. hortensis L. essential oil had anti-biofilm effects only against Prevotella nigrescens. Essential oils did not inhibit keratinocyte viability at the concentrations of 1 and 5 microl/ml, however at the concentration of 5 microl/ml epithelial cells detached from the culture well bottom. The present findings suggest that S. hortensis L. essential oil inhibits the growth of periodontal bacteria in the concentration that is safe on keratinocytes, however, in the subinhibitory concentration its anti-biofilm effect is limited.

Effect of probiotics on aspirin-induced gastric mucosal lesions.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to investigate the role of a probiotic mixture, including 13 different bacteria, in the prevention of aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury. METHODS: Forty rats were allocated into 4 groups: normal control, aspirin, probiotic control, and probiotic plus aspirin. Normal control and aspirin groups received 0.2 ml of skim milk by daily gavage for 14 days. Probiotic control and probiotic plus aspirin groups were administered 0.2 ml/day of probiotic mixture (1.3 x 10(10) cfu/ml) suspended in skim milk by daily gavage for 14 days. On day 15, gastric lesions were induced by administration of aspirin (200 mg/kg) in the aspirin and probiotic plus aspirin groups. Normal control and probiotic control groups were given saline. RESULTS: Pretreatment with probiotic mixture reduced aspirin-induced gastric damage scores (4.50 ± 0.43 and 2.60 ± 0.40, p<0.01) and exerted tendency of downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines elicited by aspirin (p>0.05). We also found that the probiotic mixture increased sIgA production approximately 7.5-fold in the stomach, and significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) increase in the gastric mucosa elicited by aspirin (p<0.001). Additionally, pretreatment with the probiotic mixture alleviated aspirin-induced reduction of mast cell count in the gastric mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: Probiotic mixture pretreatment attenuates the aspirin-induced gastric lesions by reducing the lipid peroxidation, enhancing mucosal sIgA production, and stabilizing mucosal mast cell degranulation into the gastric mucosa.