title: Essential Oil from Berries of Lebanese Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb Displays Similar Antibacterial Activity to Chlorhexidine but Higher Cytocompatibility with Human Oral Primary Cells.
abstract: Chlorhexidine (CHX), one of the most effective drugs administered for periodontal treatment, presents collateral effects including toxicity when used for prolonged periods; here, we have evaluated the bactericidal potency and the cytocompatibility of Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb essential oil (EO) in comparison with 0.05% CHX. The EO was extracted from berries by hydrodistillation and components identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Bacterial inhibition halo analysis, quantitative cell viability 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulphophenyl)-5-[(phenyl amino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide assay (XTT), and colony forming unit (CFU) count were evaluated against the two biofilm formers Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Streptococcus mutans. Finally, cytocompatibility was assessed with human primary gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and mucosal keratinocytes (HK). The resulting EO was mainly composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes. An inhibition halo test demonstrated that both bacteria were sensitive to the EO; XTT analysis and CFU counts confirmed that 10-fold-diluted EO determined a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in bacteria count and viability towards both biofilm and planktonic forms in a comparable manner to those obtained with CHX. Moreover, EO displayed higher cytocompatibility than CHX (p < 0.05). In conclusion, EO exhibited bactericidal activity similar to CHX, but a superior cytocompatibility, making it a promising antiseptic alternative to CHX.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, via Solaroli 17, Novara 28100, Italy. barbara.azzimonti@med.uniupo.it.|Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), via Giusti 9, Florence 50121, Italy. barbara.azzimonti@med.uniupo.it.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Azzimonti
authors.affiliation: Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), via Giusti 9, Florence 50121, Italy. andrea.cochis@med.uniupo.it.|Laboratory of Biomedical and Dental Materials, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, via Solaroli 17, Novara 28100, Italy. andrea.cochis@med.uniupo.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cochis
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Kaslik B. P. 446, Jounieh, Lebanon. marc.beyrouthy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marc El
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Beyrouthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Milan State University, via Celoria, Milan 20133, Italy. marcello.iriti@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iriti
authors.affiliation: Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), via Giusti 9, Florence 50121, Italy. francesca.uberti@med.uniupo.it.|Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, via Solaroli 17, Novara 28100, Italy. francesca.uberti@med.uniupo.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Uberti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, via Solaroli 17, Novara 28100, Italy. ritasorr@libero.it.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, via Solaroli 17, Novara 28100, Italy. manuela.landini@med.uniupo.it.
authors.forename: Manuela Miriam
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Landini
authors.affiliation: Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), via Giusti 9, Florence 50121, Italy. lia.rimondini@med.uniupo.it.|Laboratory of Biomedical and Dental Materials, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, via Solaroli 17, Novara 28100, Italy. lia.rimondini@med.uniupo.it.
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rimondini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Milan State University, via Beldiletto 1, Milan 20142, Italy. elena.varoni@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Elena Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Varoni
mesh_terms: D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000187:drug effects*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D018653:Juniperus / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D002710:Chlorhexidine
keywords: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans; Streptococcus mutans; antibiotic resistance; dental caries; oral health; periodontitis; α-pinene