Prunus mume: novel mouthwash from edible fruit against oral pathogens?

Abstract

Objectives: Prunus mume is a common fruit in Asia which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Present study compared the antimicrobial activity of Prunus extract and other fruit juices against oral pathogens. Activity of Prunus as a mouthwash against oral pathogens was also evaluated using ex-vivo and a clinical study. Methods: Antimicrobial activity of Prune, Apple, Orange, Kiwi, Grapes against oral pathogens including S. mutans, S. mitis, S. sobrinus, A. actinomycetemcomitans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Actinomyces naselundi and E. faecalis was examined using CLSI disc diffusion assay. Next, sterile teeth were coated with salivary pellicle followed by rinsing with water, Prune and Chlorhexidine. Then, S. mutans were introduced for 3 h and adhered bacteria were quantified by CFU counting and Taqman real time PCR. Change in plaque bacterial flora was evaluated in a clinical pilot study using Prune and Chlorhexidine as a mouthwash for one week. Pathogenic oral bacteria such as S. mutans, S. sobrinus, P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, F. neucleatum were quantified by Taqman real time PCR. Results: Chlorhexidine and Prune juice showed antimicrobial activity against all the tested oral pathogens. Prunus extract reduced the adherence of S. mutans to tooth surface and showed killing activity on adhered bacteria than that of control, but the effect was lesser than Chlorhexidine. Clinical study using Prune juice as a mouthwash showed reduction of bacteria although it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Prunus mume extract could be potentially developed as a novel antibacterial mouthwash. (Supported by 2008 Innovation in Oral-Care-Awards IADR/GlaxoSmithKline).