Antibacterial effects of blackberry extract target periodontopathogens.
OBJECTIVE
Antimicrobial agents provide valuable adjunctive therapy for the prevention and the control of oral diseases. Limitations in their prolonged use have stimulated the search for new, naturally occurring agents with more specific activity and fewer adverse effects. Here we sought to determine the antibacterial properties of blackberry extract (BBE) in vitro against oral bacterial commensals and periodontopathogens.


METHODS
The effects of whole and fractionated BBE on the metabolism of 10 different oral bacteria were evaluated using the colorimetric water-soluble tetrazolium-1 assay. The bactericidal effects of whole BBE against Fusobacterium nucleatum were determined by quantitating the numbers of colony-forming units (CFUs). Cytotoxicity was determined in oral epithelial (OKF6) cells.


RESULTS
BBE at 350-1400 μg/mL reduced the metabolic activity of Porphyromonas gingivalis, F. nucleatum and Streptococcus mutans. The reduced metabolic activity observed for F. nucleatum corresponded to a reduction in the numbers of CFUs following exposure to BBE for as little as 1 h, indicative of its bactericidal properties. An anthocyanin-enriched fraction of BBE reduced the metabolic activity of F. nucleatum, but not of P. gingivalis or S. mutans, suggesting the contribution of species-specific agents in the whole BBE. Oral epithelial cell viability was not reduced following  exposure to whole BBE (2.24-1400 μg/mL) for ≤ 6 h.


CONCLUSIONS
BBE alters the metabolic activity of oral periodontopathogens while demonstrating a minimal effect on commensals. The specific antibacterial properties of BBE shown in this study, along with its previously demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, make this natural extract a promising target as an adjunct for prevention and/or complementary therapy of periodontal infections.
Department of Oral Health Practice, Center for Oral Health Research, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0297, USA.
O A
OA
González
C
C
Escamilla
R J
RJ
Danaher
J
J
Dai
J L
JL
Ebersole
R J
RJ
Mumper
C S
CS
Miller
D000190:Actinomyces / Q000187:drug effects; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000187:drug effects; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008422:Materials Testing; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000187:drug effects; D027824:Rosaceae; D054773:Streptococcus gordonii / Q000187:drug effects; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects; D019533:Streptococcus oralis / Q000187:drug effects; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013997:Time Factors; D014678:Veillonella / Q000187:drug effects
C110656:2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium; D000872:Anthocyanins; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine