title: 3,6-Anhydro-l-galactose, a rare sugar from agar, a new anticariogenic sugar to replace xylitol.
abstract: The significance for anticariogenic sugar substitutes is growing due to increasing demands for dietary sugars and rising concerns of dental caries. Xylitol is widely used as an anticariogenic sugar substitute, but the inhibitory effects of xylitol on Streptococcus mutans, the main cause of tooth decay, are exhibited only at high concentrations. Here, the inhibitory effects of 3,6-anhydro-l-galactose (AHG), a rare sugar from red macroalgae, were evaluated on S. mutans, in comparison with those of xylitol. In the presence of 5g/l of AHG, the growth of S. mutans was retarded. At 10g/l of AHG, the growth and acid production by S. mutans were completely inhibited. However, in the presence of xylitol, at a much higher concentration (i.e., 40g/l), the growth of S. mutans still occurred. These results suggest that AHG can be used as a new anticariogenic sugar substitute for preventing dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ah Reum
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Mun
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea. Electronic address: khekim@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kyoung Heon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005690:Galactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013549:Sweetening Agents; C117625:3,6-anhydrogalactose; D000362:Agar; D014993:Xylitol; D005690:Galactose
keywords: 3,6-Anhydro-l-galactose; Agar; Anticariogenic; Dental caries; Red macroalgae; Streptococcus mutans