ANTI-MICROBIAL EFFECTS OF PHENOLIC EXTRACTS ON CARIOGENIC ORAL BACTERIA: EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

The intent of this research program was to evaluate the anti-caries effects of bio-active molecules of natural origin (derived from plants), in order to elaborate a new preventive methodology. The under discussion molecules were polyphenols. For this aim, this research project has been divided in 5 part. Part 1: In vitro evaluation of the anti-microbial effects of phenolic extracts on cariogenic oral bacteria; Part 2: Evaluation of citotoxicity effect and antimicrobial properties of Camelia sinensis extract against cariogenic microflora; Part 3: Evaluation of citotoxicity effect and antibacterial power of Plantago lanceolata extract against oral cariogenic microflora. The results obtained from this research show the anticariogenic activity of polyphenols both in vitro and in vivo experiments. They could open a promising avenue of applications because these compounds largely occur in flowering plants and could be used at a reasonable cost in the preparation of specific remedies. In fact, these active principles could be exploited by nutritional and pharmacological industries by adding these bio-molecules both in food and in commercial products used for oral hygiene (mouth-rinse, toothpaste) in order to create a new preventive methodology against dental caries.