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Activity of Nidus Vespae extract and chemical fractions against Streptococcus mutans biofilms.

Xiao J, Zhou XD, Feng J, Hao YQ, Li JY

Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedical Engineering, Ministry of China.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of Nidus Vespae extract and chemical fractions on the viability and architecture of Streptococcus mutans biofilms. METHODS AND RESULTS: The raw material was first extracted using 95% ethanol/water. Subsequent fractions were prepared from this extract using cyclohexane/ethyl acetate, petroleum ether/ethyl acetate and chloroform/methanol. The biomass dry weight and total protein of samples treated with Nidus Vespae extract and chemical fractions were significantly less than those treated with the vehicle control (P < 0.05). Biofilms treated with Nidus Vespae also resulted in lower percentage of polysaccharide composition. The pH decrease in the biofilm matrix was retarded by Nidus Vespae compared with the vehicle control. Architecture of biofilms treated with Nidus Vespae was different than in the vehicle control and 0.05% chlorhexidine. CONCLUSIONS: Chloroform/methanol fraction was the most effective treatment. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The significant antibiofilm activity demonstrated by Nidus Vespae shows it to be a promising source of novel anticariogenic agents.

Published 25 October 2007 in Lett Appl Microbiol, 45(5): 547-52.
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