title: Application of Plant Extracts for the Prevention of Dental Erosion: An in situ/in vitro Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Antiadherent and antibacterial effects of certain plant extracts have been proven to be beneficial in preventive dentistry. In the present in situ/in vitro crossover study, the impact of plant extracts rich in polyphenols on the erosion-protective properties of the in situ pellicle was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individual splints were prepared for 12 subjects for intraoral exposure of bovine enamel specimens. Following formation of a 1-min pellicle, watery plant extracts (leaves of the wild form of Ribes nigrum, the wild form of Origanum as well as a combination of both) were administered for 10 min in situ. Alternatively, a mouth rinse with fluorides (Elmex Kariesschutz) was performed for 1 min. After further oral exposure for 19/28 min, respectively, slabs were removed and incubated with HCl in vitro over 120 s (pH 2, 2.3, 3). The resulting calcium and phosphate release was quantified photometrically. Slabs with and without a 30-min in situ pellicle served as controls. The modification of pellicle ultrastructure was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plant extracts modulated the erosion-protective properties of the native in situ pellicle in all test groups in a pH-dependent manner. The combination of R. nigrum leaves and Origanum enhanced the protective properties of the pellicle at all pH values; the administration of this preparation was comparable, yet superior, to the effect of the fluoridated mouth rinse. TEM images indicated that rinsing with R. nigrum leaves/Origanum yielded a distinctly thicker and more electron-dense pellicle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of certain plant extracts offers a novel approach to the complementary prevention of dental erosion.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Operative and Pediatric Dentistry, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Marie-Theres
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hannig
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pötschke
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Höhne
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hannig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry*; D044622:Dental Pellicle / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003959:Diamines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D031341:Origanum / Q000737:chemistry; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D010783:Photometry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000379:methods*; D031965:Ribes / Q000737:chemistry; D013165:Splints; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003959:Diamines; D010710:Phosphates; D010936:Plant Extracts; C495399:Olaflur; D005459:Fluorides; D002118:Calcium