Prevention of dental caries by grape seed extract supplementation: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Dental caries are the most prominent chronic disease of children and adults worldwide, and facilitating evidence-based, preventative care for their prevention is critical. Caries are traditionally and successfully prevented by regular fluoride use, but there are opportunities to halt and restore caries with alternative agents in addition to fluoride use. Grape seed extract (GSE) is a readily available plant-based supplement that, due to its concentrated levels of proanthocyanidins, has promising characteristics that may assist in dental caries prevention. Aim: The goal of this review was to investigate whether current research supports use of grape seed extract to prevent dental caries formation. Methods: A systematic review of articles related to grape seed extract, prevention of dental caries, inhibition of Streptococcus mutans, and remineralization was conducted. Articles were first chosen by inclusion of dental models that used grape seed extract as an intervention, and then by strength of study design. Results: Twenty articles were reviewed. Studies overall supported three unique grape seed extract properties facilitating dental caries prevention. In the first articles reviewed, grape seed extract inhibited proliferation of bacterial biofilms on tooth surfaces. In addition, studies reviewed indicated that grape seed extract promoted dental remineralization. Conclusions: Caries prevention by grape seed extract may be unique compared with fluoride, and is linked to grape seed extract’s bacteriostatic and collagen crosslinking properties. Future research should investigate potential delivery methods, and benefits of combined grape seed extract use with known caries preventative agents, in human participants.

Use of water and ethanol extracts from wine grape seed pomace to prepare an antioxidant toothpaste

“…In grape seeds the most concentrated class is flavanols, proanthocyanidins or condensed tannins, which have a strong antioxidant activity and have been studied for their important role in dental caries prevention. 21 Depending on the solvent used or on the method of extraction, lipids are more or less intensively extracted and it is known that oil has very moderate antiradical activity, as determined by DPPH radical scavenging, in contrast to the strong antiradical activity of polyphenols; but, overall, the lipid fraction is easily oxidizable, producing a radical which increases the oxidability of the substrate. 30 Most of the samples were judged as 'neither pleasant nor unpleasant'; this is probably due to the fact that, as expressed by many, the flavor of the extracts was masked by the mint flavor of the commercial toothpaste base.…”

“…16 The recovery of antioxidant compounds from grape pomace after the vinification process is a research activity that has developed in the last decade, and several applications in medicine have been carried out to control hyperglycemia in diabetic mice 17 or to control oxidative stress in obese mice, 18 to protect endothelial and muscle cells through an increase in glutathione (GSH) levels as potent scavengers of free radicals, 19 and providing protection against colon carcinogenesis. 20 For dental care a recent review by Delimont and Carlson 21 reported that grape seed extract properties facilitate dental caries prevention, by inhibiting proliferation of bacterial biofilms on tooth surfaces and promoting dental remineralization. 22 In this research, the general hypothesis has been whether the potential use of seed polyphenols, mainly tannins, extracted from grape pomace after the vinification process, in a commercial toothpaste formulation could enhance its antioxidant activity by maintaining stability at room temperature.…”

Dentin erosion preventive effects of various plant extracts: An in vitro atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and nanoindentation study

“…In some studies, the remineralizing effect of GSE, of which an active ingredient is proanthocyanidin, has been noted in caries on the dentin surface or root caries. It has also been reported as effective in preventing caries formation (Delimont & Carlson, 2020; Silva, Goncalves, Borges, Bedran‐Russo, & Shinohara, 2015).…”

Vegetal Compounds as Sources of Prophylactic and Therapeutic Agents in Dentistry

“…In dentistry, grape seeds are mainly used for restorative dental work and prevention of dental caries. The main compound of grape seeds responsible for the beneficial actions in dental pathologies is represented by the proanthocyanidin group [112]. In vivo studies have shown that grape seed extract has the ability to reduce colonization of S. mutans, the main bacterium involved in tooth decay [113].…”

“…The mechanisms of action underlying this therapeutic property consist of: (i) grape seed extract mediates remineralization; (ii) grape seed extract prevents dental degradation and (iii) grape seed extract influences the dental tensile strength. These mechanisms are due to the ability of phytocompounds in grape extract to bind to enzymes responsible for tooth enamel degradation and to promote crosslinking of collagen-rich dentin surfaces [112].…”