Essential Oil of Curcuma longa Inhibits Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Formation

Abstract

Curcuma longa (C. longa) has been used as a spice in foods and as an antimicrobial in Oriental medicine. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of an essential oil isolated from C. longa on the cariogenic properties of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), which is an important bacterium in dental plaque and dental caries formation. First, the inhibitory effects of C. longa essential oil on the growth and acid production of S. mutans were tested. Next, the effect of C. longa essential oil on adhesion to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads (S-HAs) was investigated. C. longa essential oil inhibited the growth and acid production of S. mutans at concentrations from 0.5 to 4 mg/mL. The essential oil also exhibited significant inhibition of S. mutans adherence to S-HAs at concentrations higher than 0.5 mg/mL. S. mutans biofilm formation was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and safranin staining. The essential oil of C. longa inhibited the formation of S. mutans biofilms at concentrations higher than 0.5 mg/mL. The components of C. longa essential oil were then analyzed by GC and GC-MS, and the major components were α-turmerone (35.59%), germacrone (19.02%), α-zingiberene (8.74%), αr-turmerone (6.31%), trans-β-elemenone (5.65%), curlone (5.45%), and β-sesquiphellandrene (4.73%). These results suggest that C. longa may inhibit the cariogenic properties of S. mutans.

Overexpressing 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase (HMGR) in the Lactococcal Mevalonate Pathway for Heterologous Plant Sesquiterpene Production

“…While many essential oils which contain β-sesquiphellandrene have been shown to possess anti-microbial and anti-oxidant activities [22], [27], the effect may be caused by other components of the essential oil especially in cases where β-sesquiphellandrene is found only in minute amounts. Denyer et al [21], however, showed that among α-zingiberene, β-sesquiphellandrene and β-bisabolene from the essential oils of ginger, β-sesquiphellandrene had the highest antirhinoviral activity with an IC 50 of 0.44 µM in the plaque reduction test [21].…”

Antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects of a polyherbal formula and its constituents against coagulase-negative and -positive staphylococci isolated from bovine mastitis

“…Moreover, previous study has revealed the anti-biofilm potency of YSMP against the biofilm-positive strain, S. epidermidis ATCC 35984 (Chusri, Settharaksa et al 2013). Even though the anti-biofilm activity of YSMP and its components on mastitis-causing bacteria has never been investigated, curcumins and essential oil of C. longa displayed antibiofilm potencies on Streptococcus mutans (Lee et al 2011), Vibrio spp. (Packiavathyet al 2013), and P. aeruginosa (Rudrappa & Bais 2008), while, α-mangostin has been reported to have an activity against streptococci (Nguyen & Marquis 2011). 3.3.…”

Plant Products in Dental and Periodontal Disease: An overview

“…Turmeric has also been widely used in ayurvedic medicine for its anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory astringent, anti-septic and analgesic properties. [26] Lee et al demonstrated that an essential oil isolated from Curcuma longa efficiently inhibited S. mutans species which is important microflora in formation of dental plaque and dental caries. [27] Curcumin, a major curcumanoid found in the spice turmeric, exhibits anti-inflammatory properties against Porphyromonas gingivalis which is considered as major periodontopathic bacterium.…”