title: Biofilm biomass disruption by natural substances with potential for endodontic use.
abstract: This study evaluated the in vitro effects of four natural substances on the biomass of bacterial biofilms to assess their potential use as root canal irrigants. The following substances and their combinations were tested: 0.2% farnesol; 5% xylitol; 20% xylitol; 0.2% farnesol and 5% xylitol; 0.2% farnesol, 5% xylitol, and 0.1% lactoferrin; 5% xylitol and 0.1% lactoferrin; and 20 mM salicylic acid. The crystal violet assay was used to evaluate the effects of these substances on the biomass of biofilms formed by Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. All substances except for 20 mM salicylic acid and 20% xylitol reduced biofilm mass when compared to controls. The combination of farnesol and xylitol was the most effective agent against E. faecalis ATCC 29212 (p < 0.05). Farnesol combined with xylitol and lactoferrin was the most effective against biofilms of the endodontic strain of E. faecalis MB35 (p < 0.05). Similarly, combinations involving farnesol, xylitol, and lactoferrin reduced the biomass of S. epidermidis biofilms. In general, farnesol, xylitol, and lactoferrin or farnesol and xylitol reduced biofilm biomass most effectively. Therefore, it was concluded that combinations of antibiofilm substances have potential use in endodontic treatment to combat biofilms.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endodontia, Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Estácio de Sá, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. flavioferreiraalves@gmail.com
authors.forename: Flávio Rodrigues Ferreira
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Marlei Gomes
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Isabela Neves
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Rôças
authors.forename: José Freitas
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Siqueira
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D005204:Farnesol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005840:Gentian Violet / Q000737:chemistry; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013997:Time Factors; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D005204:Farnesol; D007781:Lactoferrin; D005840:Gentian Violet; D020156:Salicylic Acid; D014993:Xylitol