Antibacterial activity of phytoncide on oral biofilm

Min-Jeong Kim , Myung-Gu Lee , Joon-Haeng Lee , Yeol-Mae Jeon , Hyun-Jun Yoo

Abstract : Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of phytoncide on oral biofilm. Methods: Antibacterial activity of phytoncide was examined on the bacteria Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Enterococcus faecalis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and oral biofilm. After mixing the phytoncide, S. mutans, A. actinomycetemcomitans, E. faecalis, and P. gingivalis with a culture alone turbid and mixed, and they were then incubated at 37°C under anaerobic conditions and cultured. Following incubation, a microplate reader was used to measure the absorbance and observe the amount of bacteria. In addition, non-polarized saliva containing bacteria was grown for 72 h under anaerobic conditions for the determination of biofilm biomass and bacterial numbers. Various concentrations of phytoncide were added to the saliva biofilm. Statistical significance tests were conducted using the Mann-Whitney test and SPSS 24.0. Results: S. mutans, A. actinomycetemcomitans, E. faecalis, P. gingivalis, and antibacterial effects were shown as phytoncide concentrations increased in oral biofilm. Observing the growth of bacteria using phase difference microscopes showed that the number of bacteria decreases as the phytoncide concentration increased. Also, the formation of biofilm in the saliva decreased compared to the control group. Conclusions: Based on the experimental results of phytoncide on oral biofilms causing oral cavity formation in the saliva decreased compared to that in the control group. Phytoncide showed antibiosis against oral biofilms when it remained inside the mouth for above certain concentrations. Accordingly, using phytoncide as a clinical method for preventing oral disease is deemed to be effective.