Trans-Cinnamaldehyde-Fighting <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> Using Nature

• Main Authors: Zilefac Brian Ngokwe (Author), Amit Wolfoviz-Zilberman (Author), Esi Sharon (Author), Asher Zabrovsky (Author), Nurit Beyth (Author), Yael Houri-Haddad (Author), Dana Kesler-Shvero (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010113; 1999-4923
• Keywords: <i>S. mutans</i>; trans-cinnamaldehyde; antibacterial; antibiofilm; preformed biofilms; Pharmacy and materia medica; RS1-441
• Source: Pharmaceutics, Vol 16, Iss 1, p 113 (2024)

<i>Streptococcus mutans</i> (<i>S. mutans</i>) is the main cariogenic bacterium with acidophilic properties, in part due to its acid-producing and -resistant properties. As a result of this activity, hard tooth structures may demineralize and form caries. Trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC) is a phytochemical from the cinnamon plant that has established antibacterial properties for Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. This research sought to assess the antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of trans-cinnamaldehyde on <i>S. mutans</i>. TC was diluted to a concentration range of 156.25-5000 μg/mL in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) 0.03-1%, an organic solvent. Antibacterial activity was monitored by testing the range of TC concentrations on 24 h planktonic growth compared with untreated <i>S. mutans</i>. The subminimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were used to evaluate the bacterial distribution and morphology in the biofilms. Our in vitro data established a TC MBC of 2500 μg/mL against planktonic <i>S. mutans</i> using a microplate spectrophotometer. Furthermore, the DMSO-only controls showed no antibacterial effect against planktonic <i>S. mutans</i>. Next, the sub-MBC doses exhibited antibiofilm action at TC doses of ≥625 μg/mL on hydroxyapatite discs, as demonstrated through biofilm analysis using spinning-disk confocal microscopy (SDCM) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM). Our findings show that TC possesses potent antibacterial and antibiofilm properties against <i>S. mutans</i>. Our data insinuate that the most effective sub-MBC of TC to bestow these activities is 625 μg/mL.