title: In vitro effects of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil on growth and production of volatile sulphur compounds by oral bacteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Halitosis can be caused by microorganisms that produce volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs), which colonize the surface of the tongue and subgingival sites. Studies have reported that the use of natural products can reduce the bacterial load and, consequently, the development of halitosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia on the growth and volatile sulphur compound (VSC) production of oral bacteria compared with chlorhexidine.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of these substances were evaluated by the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) in planktonic cultures of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Porphyromonas endodontalis. In addition, gas chromatography analyses were performed to measure the concentration of VSCs from bacterial cultures and to characterize M. alternifolia oil components.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MIC and MBC values were as follows: M. alternifolia - P. gingivalis (MIC and MBC=0.007%), P. endodontalis (MIC and MBC=0.007%=0.5%); chlorhexidine - P. gingivalis and P. endodontalis (MIC and MBC=1.5 mg/mL). M. alternifolia significantly reduced the growth and production of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) by P. gingivalis (p<0.05, ANOVA-Dunnet) and the H2S and methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) levels of P. endodontalis (p<0.05, ANOVA-Dunnet). Chlorhexidine reduced the growth of both microorganisms without altering the production of VSC in P. endodontalis. For P. gingivalis, the production of H2S and CH3SH decreased (p<0.05, ANOVA-Dunnet).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  M. alternifolia can reduce bacterial growth and VSCs production and could be used as an alternative to chlorhexidine.
authors.affiliation: - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Área de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Departamento de Diagnóstico Oral, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Talita Signoreti
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Graziano
authors.affiliation: - Centro de Diagnóstico de Halitose - Halicenter, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Caroline Morini
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Calil
authors.affiliation: - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Centro Pluridisciplinar de Pesquisas Químicas, Biológicas e Agrícolas, Campinas, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Adilson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sartoratto
authors.affiliation: - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Área de Farmacologia, Anestesiologia e Terapêutica, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gilson César Nobre
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: - Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Laboratório de Fisiologia e Patofisiologia, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Francisco Carlos
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Groppo
authors.affiliation: - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Campinas, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cogo-Müller
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006209:Halitosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D031650:Melaleuca / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D045202:Porphyromonas endodontalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D020947:Tea Tree Oil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D020947:Tea Tree Oil