title: Antibacterial Activity of Copaiba Oil Gel on Dental Biofilm.
abstract: Amazonian biodiversity products that have been used for years in folk medicine, have emerged as feasible and promising alternatives for the inhibition of microorganisms in dental biofilm. Copaiba oil, a phytotherapic agent widely used by the Amazonian populations, is known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anesthetic, healing and antitumor medicinal properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of copaiba oil (Copaifera multijuga) gel against strains of Streptococcus sp present in dental biofilm.
  
  
  METHODS
  The copaiba oil was obtained and the chemical components were identified. The oil emulsions were formulated and used with the Brain Heart Infusion agar diffusion method with strains of Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus constellatus and Streptococcus salivarius isolated from patients as well as standard strains of S. mitis (ATCC903), S. mutans (ATCC10449), S. sanguinis (ATCC15300) and S. oralis (ATCC10557). The study groups were as follows: experimental copaiba oil gel, 1% chlorhexidine gel (positive control) and base gel (negative control). The seeded plates were incubated at 37ºC for 12, 24 and 48 hours, respectively. The results obtained were analyzed by Shapiro-Wilk and Friedman Tests (p<0.05) for non parametric data and the Tukey test was used for pH values with 5% level of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental copaiba oil gel and 1% chlorhexidine gel showed antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The copaiba oil gel demonstrated antibacterial activity against all the strains of Streptococcus sp tested, suggesting that it can be used for dental biofilm control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials, College of Dentistry, UFAM - Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia A C G
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology and Phytotherapy, College of Dentistry, UFAM - Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nikeila C de Oliveira
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Conde
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology and Phytotherapy, College of Dentistry, UFAM - Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisely N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Venâncio
authors.affiliation: Department of Phytotherapy, College of Dentistry, UFAM - Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia S L L
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Milério
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and Phytotherapy, College of Dentistry, UFAM - Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria F C L
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bandeira
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry - Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valdir F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: da Veiga Júnior
keywords: Alternative medicine; Copaifera; Streptococcus; biofilm; phytotherapy