title: Development and evaluation of a safe and effective sugar-free herbal lollipop that kills cavity-causing bacteria.
abstract: Dental caries (tooth decay) is caused by a specific group of cariogenic bacteria, like Streptococcus mutans, which convert dietary sugars into acids that dissolve the mineral in tooth structure. Killing cariogenic bacteria is an effective way to control or prevent tooth decay. In a previous study, we discovered a novel compound (Glycyrrhizol A), from the extraction of licorice roots, with strong antimicrobial activity against cariogenic bacteria. In the current study, we developed a method to produce these specific herbal extracts in large quantities, and then used these extracts to develop a sugar-free lollipop that effectively kills cariogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans. Further studies showed that these sugar-free lollipops are safe and their antimicrobial activity is stable. Two pilot human studies indicate that a brief application of these lollipops (twice a day for ten days) led to a marked reduction of cariogenic bacteria in oral cavity among most human subjects tested. This herbal lollipop could be a novel tool to promote oral health through functional foods.
authors: School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors: Chu-Hong
authors: CH
authors: Hu
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: He
authors: Randal
authors: R
authors: Eckert
authors: Xiao-Yang
authors: XY
authors: Wu
authors: Li-Na
authors: LN
authors: Li
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Tian
authors: Renate
authors: R
authors: Lux
authors: Justin A
authors: JA
authors: Shuffer
authors: Faina
authors: F
authors: Gelman
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Mentes
authors: Sue
authors: S
authors: Spackman
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Bauer
authors: Maxwell H
authors: MH
authors: Anderson
authors: Wen-Yuan
authors: WY
authors: Shi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D002182:Candy / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D036343:Pterocarpans / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D012449:Safety; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000187:drug effects; D013549:Sweetening Agents
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D036343:Pterocarpans; D013549:Sweetening Agents; C508542:glycyrrhizol A