Estudos pré-clínicos de eficácia e segurança de extratos de priprioca (Cyperus articulatus) visando potencial aplicação no combate à doença cárie

Abstract

The most prevalent and consequential oral disease worldwide is tooth decay, which presents serious economic and health burdens, significantly reducing the quality of life of those affected. Ethnopharmacological studies show that population groups have used plant extracts for centuries to control cavities. Scientific research demonstrates the effectiveness of extracts from medicinal plants against oral microorganisms and, consequently, their benefits on the oral health of individuals. Thus, the proposed study aims at pre-clinical efficacy and safety studies, preliminary to the development of an herbal mouthwash, with antimicrobial action, based on essential oil and ethanolic extracts from the rhizomes and solid residue originating from a medicinal plant and aromatic plant from the Amazon, priprioca (Cyperus articulatus). After obtaining the essential oil, the ethanolic extract from the intact rhizomes and the ethanolic extract from the solid residue of C. articulatus, we carried out chemical characterization by gas chromatography (GC-MS) of these extracts and the antimicrobial activity was defined by the in vitro concentration test. Minimum Inhibitory Control (MIC) on Streptococcus mutans. Toxicity was assessed by in vitro cell viability tests on Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts (MTT) and ocular irritation on chicken egg chorio-allantoic membrane (HET-CAM); and by testing acute oral toxicity and irritation of the oral mucosa in rats. Sesquiterpenes were identified as the main constituents of the essential oil and extracts, mustacone as the main compound. The essential oil and extract from intact priprioca rhizomes demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity at concentrations of 0.46 mg/ml and 0.29 mg/ml, respectively, against S. mutans and lack of toxicity for all substances tested. These results can validate the use of these natural products in Dentistry and accredit the bioactives as a potential natural anticariogenic drug; In this way, seeking prevention alternatives in oral health and reducing the rate of caries disease in the region.