Postbiotics are a promising functional ingredient that can overcome the limitations of viability and storage stability that challenge the production of probiotics. To evaluate the effects of postbiotics on oral health, eight spent culture supernatants (SCSs) of probiotics were prepared, and the effects of SCSs on Streptococcus mutans-induced cariogenic biofilm formation and the receptor activator of the nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis were evaluated in RAW 264.7 macrophages. SCS of Lactobacillus salivarius MG4265 reduced S. mutans-induced biofilm formation by 73% and significantly inhibited tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, which is a biomarker of mature osteoclasts in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The suppression of RANKL-induced activation of mitogen activated the protein kinases (c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and p38) and nuclear factor κB pathways, as well as the upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 expression. The suppression of RANK-L-induced activation of mitogen also inhibited the expression of transcriptional factors (c-fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1) and, subsequently, osteoclastogenesis-related gene expression (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP), cathepsin K, and matrix metalloproteinase-9).Therefore, SCS of L. salivarius MG4265 has great potential as a multifunctional oral health ingredient that inhibits biofilm formation and suppresses the alveolar bone loss that is associated with periodontitis.

Chrysin-loaded phytosomes (CP) were prepared using either soya phosphatidylcholine (SPC) or egg phospholipid (EPL) by the solvent evaporation method. Different phospholipid matrices resulted in significant differences in size, mechanical property and solubility of the CP. The most stable CP was obtained with EPL at a molar ratio of 1:3 (chrysin: EPL, CEP-1:3). CEP-1:3 displayed an average size of 117 nm with uniform size distribution (polydispersity index: 0.30) and zeta potential of −31 mV. A significantly greater elastic modulus of CEP-1:3 (2.7-fold) indicated tighter packing and strong molecular bonding than those of CP prepared with SPC (CSP-1:3). X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis of CEP-1:3 confirmed molecular complexation. CEP-1:3 displayed a greater glucose uptake promoting effect than free chrysin and CSP-1:3 in muscle cells by stimulating gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and glucose transporter type 4. The results of the present study suggest that the phospholipid matrix used for the preparation of phytosomes critically influences their performance.

Periodontitis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases. The anti-inflammatory effect of the extract from brown algae Ecklonia cava was analyzed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1), the most abundant cells in gingival tissue. The gene expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and interleukin-6 were decreased by 78 and 50%, respectively, at 100 μg/mL Ecklonia cava extract (ECE) treatment. The gene expressions of matrix metalloproteases (MMP-2 and MMP-8) and chemokines (macrophage inflammatory protein 1-alpha and stromal cell-derived factor 1) were also significantly down-regulated by ECE treatment (p < 0.05). The increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HGF-1 cells by LPS stimulation was decreased by 30% at 100 μg/mL ECE treatment. The mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signal activated by ROS were suppressed by ECE in a dose-dependent manner. ECE treatment (400 mg/kg, 8 weeks) significantly improved alveolar bone resorption in the ligature-induced chronic periodontitis rat model. ECE supplementation also lowered elevated mRNA expression of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) in the gingival tissue (p < 0.05). Therefore, ECE mitigated gingival tissue destruction and bone resorption associated with chronic periodontitis condition.

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Effects of culture supernatants of Lactobacillus reuteri MG5346 (CS-5346) on receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis were examined. CS-MG5346 treatment up to 400 μg/mL significantly reduced tartrate-resistant acidphosphatase (TRAP) activity, the phenotype biomarker of osteoclast, without affecting cell viability. CS-MG5346 inhibited the expression of osteoclast specific transcriptional factors (cfos and nuclear factor-activated T cells c1) and their target genes (TRAP, cathepsin, and matrix metallo-proteinase-9) in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). The administration of L. reuteri MG5346 (2 × 10 8 CFU/day) for 8 wks significantly improved furcation involvement, but no difference was observed in alveolar bone loss in ligature-induced experimental periodontitis rats. The elevated RANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio, the biomarker of periodontitis, was significantly lowered in the gingival tissue by administration of L. reuteri MG5346 (p < 0.05).L. reuteri MG5346 showed excellent stability in simulated stomach and intestinal fluids and did not have antibiotic resistance. Based on the results, L. reuteri MG5346 has the potential to be a promising probiotic strain for oral health.