Análise do potencial antimicrobiano de lectinas e outras substâncias naturais frente a bactérias orais

Abstract

Biofilms are more resistant form of microbial life compared to planktonic form, in the wild. This resistance is related to the natural characteristics of survival of microbial cells living in this type of community. The caries that can affect the dental tissues is directly related to the formation of microbial communities and still has great social and economic impact on society. This study aimed to investigate the potential of plant compounds as biotechnological inputs to be applied in prevention and treatment of dental caries. To this end, methods were performed to verify the antimicrobial and antibiofilme activity of plant lectins of the genus Canavalia and essential oils of Croton zehntneri as well as its major components against bacteria involved in caries. Furthermore, was verified the possible simultaneous action of lectins and casban diterpene (DC) on the expression of virulence genes related to biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans. Within the methodology undertaken in this work can be concluded that: lectins of the genus Canavalia can interfere with the factor micro-organisms related to dental caries; essential oils and their major components showed significant antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and that solutions of ConM lectin and ConM/DC acting simultaneously were able to alter the expression of genes related to biofilm formation by S. mutans, and may be used in preclinical studies in order to develop new alternatives for prevention and therapy for caries.