Apigenin and tt-farnesol with fluoride effects on S. mutans biofilms and dental caries

J Dent Res. 2005 Nov;84(11):1016-20. doi: 10.1177/154405910508401109.

Abstract

Apigenin (Api) and tt-farnesol (Far) are two naturally occurring agents that affect the development of cariogenic biofilms. Fluoride (F) interferes physicochemically with caries development and also exhibits antibacterial activity. We examined whether the association of Api and Far enhance the anti-caries properties of F by acting cooperatively on the expression of virulence of Streptococcus mutans. The biological effects of each of the agents were greatly enhanced when used in combination with F. In general, biofilms treated with Api and/or Far in combination with F displayed less biomass and fewer insoluble glucans and iodophilic polysaccharides than did those treated with the test agents alone (P < 0.05). The combination of the test agents with F was highly effective in preventing caries development in rats, especially Api+Far+F, and results were comparable with those observed with chlorhexidine + F (positive control). Results from these studies showed that apigenin and tt-farnesol may enhance the cariostatic effectiveness of fluoride.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local / pharmacology
  • Apigenin / administration & dosage
  • Apigenin / pharmacology*
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Cariostatic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Chemistry, Physical
  • Chlorhexidine / administration & dosage
  • Chlorhexidine / pharmacology
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Dental Caries / microbiology*
  • Dental Caries / prevention & control
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Synergism
  • Farnesol / administration & dosage
  • Farnesol / pharmacology*
  • Fluorides / administration & dosage
  • Fluorides / pharmacology*
  • Glucans / analysis
  • Placebos
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Solubility
  • Streptococcus mutans / drug effects*
  • Streptococcus mutans / pathogenicity
  • Virulence / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local
  • Cariostatic Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • Glucans
  • Placebos
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Farnesol
  • Apigenin
  • Fluorides
  • Chlorhexidine