title: Effects of 7-epiclusianone on Streptococcus mutans and caries development in rats.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 7-epiclusianone (7-epi) on specific virulence attributes of Streptococcus mutans in vitro and on development of dental caries in vivo. 7-Epi was obtained and purified from fruits of Rheedia brasiliensis. We investigated its influence on surface-adsorbed glucosyltransferase (Gtf) B activity, acid production, and viability of S. MUTANS in biofilms, as well as on caries development using a rodent model. 7-Epi (100 µg/mL) significantly reduced the activity of surface-adsorbed GtfB (up to 48.0 ± 1.8 of inhibition at 100 µg/mL) and glycolytic pH-drop by S. mutans in biofilms (125 and 250 µg/mL) (vs. vehicle control, p < 0.05). In contrast, the test compound did not significantly affect the bacterial viability when compared to vehicle control (15 % ethanol, p > 0.05). Wistar rats treated topically with 7-epi (twice daily, 60-s exposure) showed significantly smaller number of and less severe smooth- and sulcal-surface carious lesions (p < 0.05), without reducing the S. mutans viable population from the animals' dental biofilms. In conclusion, the natural compound 7-epiclusianone may be a potentially novel pharmacological agent to prevent and control dental caries disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Salles
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Branco-de-Almeida
authors.forename: Ramiro Mendonça
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Eliane Melo
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Marcelo Henrique
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Severino Matias
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: de Alencar
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Pedro Luiz
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Rosalen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001577:Benzophenones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D028084:Clusiaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005936:Glucans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051381:Rats; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C118110:7-epiclusianone; D001577:Benzophenones; D016227:Benzoquinones; D005936:Glucans; D005964:Glucosyltransferases