Plant-based alternative to antibiotics developed
Extracted from guava, apples, fig peels, teas and almonds, it may provide an alternative in periodontal disease treatment.
A powder based on morin, a natural compound extracted from plants such as guava leaves, apple and fig peels, certain teas and almonds, has shown antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects against bacteria that cause periodontal disease.
It is believed that the substance, released in a controlled manner through polymers, could help with nonsurgical treatments as an alternative to antibiotics for controlling microorganisms.
Researchers at the Araraquara School of Dentistry at São Paulo State University (FOAr-UNESP) in Brazil tested morin on a multi-species biofilm formed by various species of bacteria that simulated the effects of the disease on patients’ gums.
The results were published in the Archives of Oral Biology. The study was conducted by Luciana Solera Sales during her doctoral studies at FOAr-UNESP, under the supervision of Fernanda Lourenção Brighenti. FAPESP supported the study through a doctorate and a research internship abroad.
Other researchers involved in the study included Andréia Bagliotti Meneguin from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Araraquara (FCFAr) at UNESP, Hernane da Silva Barud from the University of Araraquara (UNIARA) and Michael Robert Milward from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Birmingham in England.
“At the moment, we have a fine powder obtained through spray drying – which is the same equipment used to make powdered milk – that can be used to make various types of oral hygiene products,” said Brighenti.
“The idea is to provide a platform that acts as an adjunct and can be useful, for example, for people with reduced motor skills who are unable to brush their teeth properly, such as older adults and patients with special needs.”
Morin was chosen because it is a natural, inexpensive and easily accessible compound.
“Morin is a flavonoid that can be obtained from various fruits. But simply eating it isn’t enough; the substance needs to be processed. The idea is to take advantage of this natural compound, its benefits, and its advantages, and transform it all so that it can be used to prevent and treat tooth decay and periodontal disease,” said Sales.
The researchers plan to continue testing morin first in animal models and then in clinical studies to investigate its other properties.
“We observed with the naked eye that the in vitro biofilm treated with morin in the laboratory is less stained than when treated in its free form. So, it’s possible that there’s an advantage, that this system helps prevent tooth discoloration. We also need to test, for example, whether morin maintains the balance of the oral cavity, because we don’t want to eliminate all bacteria from patients’ mouths,” said Brighenti.
The article Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial evaluation of morin can be read at www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003996925001712.
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