Effect of Citrus aurantium L. Essential Oil on Streptococcus mutans Growth, Biofilm Formation and Virulent Genes Expression

Abstract

In an oral cavity, dental caries, periodontal disease, and endodontic lesions are caused by well-known bacterial and fungal pathogens. Essential oils (EOs) have demonstrated antimicrobial activity suggesting their use for oral hygiene. The goal of this study was to evaluate the interaction of bitter orange flower (Citrus aurantium L.) essential oil with cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans and human gingival epithelial cells. After extraction, the chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography, and its antimicrobial activity was evaluated against the growth and the expression of virulent genes in S. mutans. Finally, the effects of this essential oil on human gingival epithelial cell adhesion and growth were assessed using cell adhesion and proliferation assays. We showed that the major constituents of the tested essential oil were limonene, linalool, and β-ocimene. The essential oil reduced the growth of S. mutans, and decreased expression of comC, comD, comE, gtfB, gtfC, and gbpB genes. It should, however, be noted that essential oil at high concentration was toxic to gingival epithelial cells. Overall, this study suggests that C. aurantium L. essential oil could be used to prevent/control oral infections.

A Fresh Look at Mouthwashes—What Is Inside and What Is It For?

“…Benzyl alcohol is mainly used as a fragrance and preservative [ 114 , 115 ] and only its derivative (2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol) is used as a mild oral and pharyngeal antiseptic. Limonene [ 99 , 116 , 117 ], linalool [ 99 , 117 ], citral [ 118 ] and cinnamal (cinnamaldehyde) [ 119 ] exhibit a non-negligible activity against oral pathogenic microorganisms. Geraniol [ 120 ] and anethole [ 121 ] also show some antimicrobial properties.…”

Citrus aurantium L. Active Constituents, Biological Effects and Extraction Methods. An Updated Review

“…In another study, the antibiofilm activity of C. aurantium essential oils was observed against Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , Bacillus subtilis , Penicillium crustosum , P. expansum and P. citrinum with inhibition zones ranging approximately from 8 to 18 mm [ 49 ]. Finally, essential oils obtained from C. aurantium flowers also reduced the growth of Streptococcus mutans and reduced the mRNA expression of its virulence genes [ 50 ].…”

A Water-Soluble Antibiotic in Rhubarb Stalk Shows an Unusual Pattern of Multiple Zones of Inhibition and Preferentially Kills Slow-Growing Bacteria

“…Plant products are generally not called antibiotics because, according to the original definition, only those produced by microorganisms can be called antibiotics. However, recently, many plant products have been shown to have antibiotic activity [ 2 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Plant products have also been reported to have antifungal [ 31 ] and anticancer [ 32 ] activities.…”