Anticariogenic activities of Libidibia ferrea, gallic acid and ethyl gallate against Streptococcus mutans in biofilm model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Brazil, ethnopharmacological studies show that Libidibia ferrea (Mart. ex Tul.) L. P. Queiroz is commonly used in folk medicine as an antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. In the Amazon region, the dried fruit powder of L. ferrea are widely used empirically by the population in an alcoholic tincture as an antimicrobial mouthwash in oral infections and the infusion is also recommended for healing oral wounds. However, there are few articles that have evaluated the antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens in a biofilm model, identifying active compounds and mechanisms of action. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and anti-adherence activities of the ethanolic extract, fractions and isolated compounds (gallic acid and ethyl gallate) of the fruit and seed of L. ferrea against Streptococcus mutans. The inhibition of acidicity/acidogenicity and the expression of the S. mutans GTF genes in biofilms were also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Cell Adhesion (MICA) were evaluated with ethanolic extract (EELF), fractions, gallic acid (GA) and ethyl gallate (EG) against S. mutans. Inhibition of biofilm formation, pH drop and proton permeability tests were conducted with EELF, GA and EG, and also evaluated the expression of the GTF genes in biofilms. The compounds of dichloromethane fraction were identified by GC-MS. RESULTS: This is the first report of shikimic, pyroglutamic, malic and protocatechuic acids identified in L. ferrea. EELF, GA and EG showed MIC at 250 µg/mL, and MBC at 1000 µg/mL by EELF. EELF biofilms showed reduced dry weight and acidogenicity of S. mutans in biofilms. GA and EG reduced viable cells, glucans soluble in alkali, acidogenicity, aciduricity and downregulated expression of gtfB, gtfC and gtfD genes in biofilms. SEM images of GA and EG biofilms showed a reduction of biomass, exopolysaccharide and microcolonies of S. mutans. CONCLUSIONS: The ethanolic extract of fruit and seed of L. ferrea, gallic acid and ethyl gallate showed great antimicrobial activity and inhibition of adhesion, reduction of acidogenicity and aciduricity in S. mutans biofilms. The results obtained in vitro validate the use of this plant in ethnopharmacology, and open opportunities for the development of new oral anticariogenic agents, originated by plants that can inhibit pathogenic biofilm that leads to the development of caries.

Antimicrobial activity of Lactobacillus fermentum TcUESC01 against Streptococcus mutans UA159.

Dental caries is a multifactorial chronic-infection disease, which starts with a bacterial biofilm formation caused mainly by Streptococcus mutans. The use of probiotics has shown numerous health benefits, including in the fight against oral diseases. Strains of Lactobacillus fermentum have already shown probiotic potential against S. mutans, but there are still few studies. Thus, the aim of our study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the inoculum and metabolites produced by L. fermentum TcUESC01 against S. mutans UA159. For this, a growth curve of L. fermentum was performed and both the inoculum and the metabolites formed in the fermentation were tested against the growth of S. mutans UA159 in agar diffusion tests, and only its metabolites were tested to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration, minimal bactericidal concentration and inhibition of cell adhesion. Inhibition of biofilm formation, pH drop and proton permeability were also tested with the metabolites. The zone of inhibition began to be formed at 14 h and continued until 16 h. The inoculum containing L. fermentum also showed zone of inhibition. The MIC for the metabolites was 1280 mg/mL and the MBC was obtained with a concentration higher than the MIC equal to 5120 mg/mL. Half of the MIC concentration (640 mg/mL) was required to inhibit S. mutans adhesion to the surface of the microplates. In the biofilm analyzes, the treatment with the metabolites in the tested concentration was not able to reduce biomass, insoluble glucans and alkali soluble compared to the control biofilm (p > 0.05). The metabolites also did not affect acid production and acid tolerance of S. mutans cells in biofilms compared to saline group (p > 0.05). Lactic acid (50.38%) was the most abundant organic acid produced by L. fermentum. This is the first report showing that the metabolites produced by the Lactobacillus fermentum TcUESC01 have a potential to be used as an antimicrobial agent against S. mutans, showing anti-adherence and bactericidal activity against planktonic cells of S. mutans. Thus, further studies should be carried out in order to better understand the antimicrobial activity of metabolites of L. fermentum TCUESC01.

A prior isometric strength training increases muscle power performance of judo athletes / Exercício preparatório de força isométrico aumenta o desempenho de potência muscular de judocas

ABSTRACT Muscular power, a determinant in judo fights, can be developed by high intensity strength exercises through a mechanism known as post-activation potentiation. Thus, the objective of the present study is to verify the effect of isometric squat exercise on the performance of judo athletes. The sample was made up of eight judo athletes (22.3 ± 3.5 years old, 166.0 ± 6.0 cm; 65.4 ± 7.0 kg). The subjects went through four days of tests, one familiarization session, another as a control situation and two others as experimental sessions. In the experimental sessions, exercises in a Smith squat machine prior to the vertical countermovement jump (CMJ) test and a Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT). In the control session, only SJFT was performed. Student's t test for paired samples was used to compare performances in the different situations. A significant increase was observed in the number of projections in the SJFT (25.5 ± 2.2 vs. 26.8 ± 2.2 projections) after MVIC and in the height in CMJ (31.0 ± 2.2 vs. 33.3 ± 2.2 cm). The MVIC exercise protocol performed as a preparatory activity increased the performance of judo athletes in judo-specific tests/SJFT and CMJ.

RESUMO A potência muscular, determinante nas lutas de judô, pode ser desenvolvida por exercícios de força de alta intensidade através de um mecanismo conhecido como potenciação pós-ativação. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo é verificar o efeito do agachamento em isometria no desempenho de judocas. A amostra foi composta por oito judocas (22,3 ± 3,5 anos; 166,0 ± 6,0 cm; 65,4 ± 7,0 kg). Foi realizado quatro dias de testes, uma para sessão de familiarização, uma para a situação controle e duas para sessões experimentais. Nas sessões experimentais foi testado o efeito do exercício de agachamento guiado em contração voluntária isométrica máxima (CVIM) no desempenho do Special Judo Fitness test (SJFT) e do salto vertical com contra movimento (SCM). Na sessão controle foi realizado apenas o SJFT. O teste T Student pareado foi utilizado para comparar o desempenho entre as diferentes situações. Após a execução da CVIM foi observado um aumento significativo no número de arremessos no teste SJFT (25,5±2,2 vs. 26,8±2,2 projeções) e na altura do SCM (31,0 ± 2,2 vs. 33,3±2,2 cm). O protocolo de exercício CVIM realizado como atividade preparatória aumentou o desempenho de atletas de judô em teste específicos do Judô / SJFT e de SCM.

Longer repetition duration increases muscle activation and blood lactate response in matched resistance training protocols

This study analyzed the effect of different repetition durations on electromyographic and blood lactate responses of the bench press exercise. Fifteen recreationally trained male volunteers completed two training protocols, matched for intensity (% one-repetition maximum; 1RM), number of sets, number of repetitions, and rest intervals. One of the protocols was performed with a repetition duration of 4 s (2 s concentric: 2 s eccentric; 2:2 protocol), whereas the second protocol had a repetition duration of 6 s (2 s concentric: 4 s eccentric; 2:4 protocol). The results showed higher normalized integrated electromyography (pectoralis major and triceps brachii) for the 2:4 protocol. Blood lactate concentration was also higher in the 2:4 protocol across all sets. These results show that adding 2 s to the eccentric action in matched training protocols increases muscle activation and blood lactate response, which reinforces the notion that increasing repetition duration is an alternative load progression in resistance training.