The effect of Piper betle and Psidium guajava extracts on the cell-surface hydrophobicity of selected early settlers of dental plaque

Abstract

The adhesion of early settlers of dental plaque to the tooth surface has a role in the initiation of the development of dental plaque. The hydrophobic surface properties of the bacteria cell wall are indirectly responsible for the adhesion of the bacteria cell to the acquired pellicle on the tooth surfaces. In this study, the effect of aqueous extract of two plants (Psidium guajava and Piper betle) on the cell-surface hydro-phobicity of early settlers of dental plaque was determined in vitro. Hexadecane, a hydrocarbon was used to represent the hydrophobic surface of the teeth in the oral cavity. It was found that treatment of the early plaque settlers with 1 mg/ml extract of Psidium guajava reduced the cell-surface hydrophobicity of Strep. sanguinis, Strep. mitis and Actinomyces sp. by 54.1%, 49.9% and 40.6%, respectively. Treatment of these bacteria with the same concentration of Piper betle however, showed a comparatively lesser effect (< 10%). It was also observed that the anti-adhesive effect of the two extracts on the binding of the early plaque settlers to hexadecane is concentration dependent.

Antimicrobial efficacy of Punicagranatum mesocarp, Nelumbonucifera leaf, Psidiumguajava leaf and Coffeacanephora Extract on Common Oral Pathogens: An in-vitro Study

“…In vitro studies have shown the potential of Psidiumguajava in disrupting the bonding and adhesion of early settlers in dental plaque [3,21].Its capacity to act against the chief cariogenic pathogen S.mutans and the common periodontal bacteria P.intermedia was demonstrated in this study. Moreover, it showed no potential against Candida and P.gingivalis.…”

Lactic acid bacteria protect human intestinal epithelial cells from Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections

“…Any strategy responsible for reducing the cell surface hydrophobicity and EPS synthesis may affect the development of infection, making the cells more susceptible to antibiotics. A previous study also reported that some plant extracts inhibit the biofilm-forming capacity of Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria by interfering with their hydrophobicity (Annuk et al, 1999;Nostro et al, 2004;Razak et al, 2006). P. aeruginosa and S. aureus infections are difficult to eradicate because of their resistance to many antibiotics.…”

Impairment of the Bacterial Biofi lm Stability by Triclosan

“…Cell surface charge and CSH play a crucial role in bacterium-host cell interactions [26]. There are several reports regarding plant extracts interfering in the biofilm formation of Gram-negative bacteria [27] and Gram-positive bacteria [28][29][30]. Biofilm-associated diseases caused by Gram-positive bacteria include caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, endocarditis and prostatitis [31].…”