title: The effect of eugenol on the cariogenic properties ofStreptococcus mutansand dental caries development in rats.
abstract: Eugenol has been widely used in medicine due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer and analgesic properties. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of eugenol on the cariogenic properties ofStreptococcus mutansand dental caries development in rats. Eugenol demonstrated significant inhibitory effects against acid production byS. mutans. The synthesis of water-insoluble glucans by glucosyltransferases was reduced by eugenol. Eugenol also markedly suppressed the adherence ofS. mutansto saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads. Furthermore, topical application of eugenol reduced the incidence and severity of carious lesions in rats. These results suggest that the natural compound eugenol may be a useful therapeutic agent for dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Kunhua Hospital, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jing-Shu
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
keywords: Streptococcus mutans; acid production; adherence; dental caries; eugenol; glucosyltransferase