linoleic-acid and Dental-Caries

Dryopteris crassirhizoma is a semi-evergreen plant. Previous studies have shown the potential of this plant as an agent for the control of cariogenic biofilms. In this study, the main antibacterial components of the plant were identified by correlating gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data with the antibacterial activity of chloroform and n-hexane fractions and then evaluating the activity of the most potent antibacterial component against Streptococcus mutans UA159 biofilms. The most potent antibacterial component was linoleic acid, a main component of the n-hexane fraction. Linoleic acid reduced viability in a dose dependent manner and reduced biofilm accumulation during initial and mature biofilm formation. Furthermore, when the biofilms were briefly treated with linoleic acid (10 min/treatment, a total of six times), the dry weight of the biofilms was significantly diminished. In addition, the anti-biofilm activity of the n-hexane fraction was similar to that of linoleic acid. These results suggest that the n-hexane fraction of D. crassirhizoma and linoleic acid may be useful for controlling cariogenic biofilms.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biofilms; Dental Caries; Dryopteris; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Linoleic Acid; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbial Viability; Plant Extracts; Streptococcus mutans

Weanling rats were given high-sucrose cariogenic diets containing 2 per cent lauric acid, linoleic acid, nonanoic acid or monolaurin. Plaque accumulation was determined on the incisors of half the animals during only the last 3 days of the study and on the remaining animals at the conclusion of a 21-day test period when both sulcal and smooth-surface caries were assessed. No significant differences between the test groups in food consumption were observed nor were there any differences in body weight gain. The least amount of plaque was observed in the animals given monolaurin; the other fatty acids exerted no significant effect upon plaque accumulation. The smooth-surface caries data indicated that the least number of lesions occurred in the animals on the diet containing monolaurin. Nonanoic acid was significantly more effective in limiting sulcal caries than any of the other fatty acids studied. Thus both monolaurin and nonanoic acid have significant cariostatic activity in the rat.

Topics: Animals; Cariostatic Agents; Dental Caries; Dental Plaque; Diet; Fatty Acids; Glycerides; Laurates; Lauric Acids; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Monoglycerides; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains