Chamaecyparis obtusa Suppresses Virulence Genes in Streptococcus mutans.
Chamaecyparis obtusa (C. obtusa) is known to have antimicrobial effects and has been used as a medicinal plant and in forest bathing. This study aimed to evaluate the anticariogenic activity of essential oil of C. obtusa on Streptococcus mutans, which is one of the most important bacterial causes of dental caries and dental biofilm formation. Essential oil from C. obtusa was extracted, and its effect on bacterial growth, acid production, and biofilm formation was evaluated. C. obtusa essential oil exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition of bacterial growth over 0.025 mg/mL, with 99% inhibition at a concentration of 0.2 mg/mL. The bacterial biofilm formation and acid production were also significantly inhibited at the concentration greater than 0.025 mg/mL. The result of LIVE/DEAD® BacLight™ Bacterial Viability Kit showed a concentration-dependent bactericidal effect on S. mutans and almost all bacteria were dead over 0.8 mg/mL. Real-time PCR analysis showed that gene expression of some virulence factors such as brpA, gbpB, gtfC, and gtfD was also inhibited. In GC and GC-MS analysis, the major components were found to be α-terpinene (40.60%), bornyl acetate (12.45%), α-pinene (11.38%), β-pinene (7.22%), β-phellandrene (3.45%), and α-terpinolene (3.40%). These results show that C. obtusa essential oil has anticariogenic effect on S. mutans.
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea.
Eun-Hee
EH
Kim
Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea.
Sun-Young
SY
Kang
Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea.
Bog-Im
BI
Park
Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea.
Young-Hoi
YH
Kim
Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea.
Young-Rae
YR
Lee
APLUS AROMA, Iksan 54627, Republic of Korea.
Jin-Hee
JH
Hoe
College of Education, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea.
Na-Young
NY
Choi
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea.
Ji-Young
JY
Ra
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea.
So-Youn
SY
An
Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea; Wonkwang Research Institute for Food Industry, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea.
Yong-Ouk
YO
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