In vitro antioxidant potential of medicinal plant extracts and their activities against oral bacteria based on Brazilian folk medicine.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine antibacterial activities of Cocos nucifera (husk fiber), Ziziphus joazeiro (inner bark), Caesalpinia pyramidalis (leaves), aqueous extracts and Aristolochia cymbifera (rhizomes) alcoholic extract against Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei. The antioxidant activity and acute toxicity of these extracts were also evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The plant extracts antibacterial activity was evaluated in vitro and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the broth micro-dilution assay. The bacterial killing kinetic was also evaluated for all extracts. In addition, the antibacterial effect of the extracts was tested in vitro on artificial oral biofilms. The acute toxicity of each extract was determined in according to Lorke [Lorke D. A new approach to practical acute toxicity testing. Arch Toxicol 1983;54:275-87] and the antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH photometric assay [Mensor LL, Menezes FS, Leitão GG, Reis AS, Santos TC, Coube CS, et al. Screening of Brazilian plants extract for antioxidant activity by the use of DPPH free radical method. Phytother Res 2001;15:127-30]. RESULTS: MIC and the bactericidal concentrations were identical, for each evaluated extract. However, microbes of artificial biofilms were less sensitive to the extracts than the planktonic strains. A. cymbifera extract induced the highest bactericidal effect against all tested bacteria, followed by C. nucifera, Z. joazeiro and C. pyramidalis extracts, respectively. All extracts showed good antioxidant potential, being C. nucifera and C. pyramidalis aqueous extracts the most active ones. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, all oral bacteria tested (planktonic or in artificial biofilms) were more susceptible to, and rapidly killed in presence of A. cymbifera, C. pyramidalis and C. nucifera than Z. joazeiro extracts, respectively. Thus, these extracts may be of great interest for future studies about treatment of oral diseases, considering their potent antioxidant activity and low toxicity.

Treatment protocol to control Streptococcus mutans level in an orthodontic patient with high caries risk.

The purpose of this article is to report a protocol for treating an orthodontic patient with a high risk of developing caries. The salivary level of Streptococcus mutans was evaluated during various stages of orthodontic treatment. It was significantly high before professional application of 1% chlorhexidine collagen gel, daily mouth rinsing with 0.05% sodium fluoride solution, and bonding of the bands and brackets. Although there were no other changes in hygiene habits, microbiologic tests showed that the microbiota was in balance during the follow-up periods. At the end of orthodontic treatment, periodontal health was observed, and enamel surfaces showed signs of remineralization.

An ectophosphatase activity in Candida parapsilosis influences the interaction of fungi with epithelial cells.

This study describes the biochemical characterization of a phosphatase activity present on the cell surface of Candida parapsilosis, a common cause of candidemia. Intact yeasts hydrolyzed p-nitrophenylphosphate to p-nitrophenol at a rate of 24.30+/-2.63 nmol p-nitrophenol h(-1) 10(-7) cells. The cell wall distribution of the Ca. parapsilosis enzyme was demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. The duration of incubation of the yeast cells with the substrate and cell density influenced enzyme activity linearly. Values of V(max) and apparent K(m) for p-nitrophenylphosphate hydrolysis were 26.80+/-1.13 nmol p-nitrophenol h(-1) 10(-7) cells and 0.47+/-0.05 mM p-nitrophenylphosphate, respectively. The ectophosphatase activity was strongly inhibited at high pH as well as by classical inhibitors of acid phosphatases, such as sodium orthovanadate, sodium molybdate, sodium fluoride, and inorganic phosphate, the final product of the reaction. Only the inhibition caused by sodium orthovanadate was irreversible. Different phophorylated amino acids were used as substrates for the Ca. parapsilosis ectoenzyme, and the highest rate of phosphate hydrolysis was achieved using phosphotyrosine. A direct relationship between ectophosphatase activity and adhesion to host cells was established. In these assays, irreversible inhibition of enzyme activity resulted in decreased levels of yeast adhesion to epithelial cells.

Análise das alterações miofuncionais na correção da mordida aberta anterior / Analysis of the myofunctionals disturb in the correction of the anterior open bite

A mordida aberta anterior é dita como o trespasse vertical dos dentes antagonistas, estejam eles localizados na região anterior, posterior ou em ambas, sendo nesse caso uma situação rara. A gravidade dessa má oclusão vai depender principalmente da presença, frequência e intensidade de hábitos deletérios e do padrão de crescimento facial de cada indivíduo. A musculatura facial e o equilíbrio muscular em função estão bastante ligados à deglutição e a pressão da língua em pacientes portadores de mordida aberta anterior com interposição lingual. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar, através de 3 exames fonoaudiológicos, a musculatura perioral e a deglutição de um paciente com mordida aberta anterior antes e após o uso da grade palatina.