Study of the anti-caries potential of Matricaria chamomilla L. extract associated or not with fluoride in bovine enamel subjected to a microcosm biofilm model

• Ano de defesa: 2025
• Autor(a) principal: Pollo, Luiz Henrique Dias
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Instituição de defesa: Biblioteca Digitais de Teses e Dissertações da USP
• Palavras-chave em Português: Anticariogenic; Anticariogênico; Bbiofilme microcosmo; Demineralization; Desmineralização; Matricaria chamomilla; Microcosm biofilm; Sinergismo; Synergism
• Link de acesso: https://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/25/25149/tde-02122025-154629/

This study aimed to produce a hydroalcoholic extract of Matricaria chamomilla L., associated or not with fluoride, and to evaluate its antibacterial activity against cariogenic bacteria, as well as its anticariogenic action in a microcosm biofilm produce on enamel. Bovine teeth were divided into five groups (n = 12): (1) Fluoride (225 ppm F-, pH 7), (2) M. chamomilla extract (20 mg/mL, pH 6.5), (3) M. chamomilla extract + fluoride (20 mg/mL + 225 ppm F, pH 6.5), (4) Periogard (pH 5.6) and (5) PBS (pH 7.4). Biofilm was produced using human saliva and McBain artificial saliva, for 5 days, with application of treatments 1x/60s per day, from the 2nd to the 5th day. After this period, CFU analyses were performed for Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp., and the TMR technique was applied to quantify enamel demineralization. Data were analyzed by ANOVA/Tukey or Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn (p<0.05). M. chamomilla + fluoride treatment significantly reduced the total Lactobacillus load in the biofilm compared to the other groups (p<0.0001). Regarding S. mutans, a lower presence of this microorganism was observed in the biofilm treated with Periogard and M. chamomilla + fluoride compared to the other groups (p=0.03). Fluoride reduced both the integrated (p=0.002) and the mean (p=0.0001) mineral loss compared to the M. chamomilla and PBS groups, with no significant differences with the other groups. On the other hand, M. chamomilla + fluoride (median 24.8, I.I 2.5 % vol) significantly reduced the mean mineral loss compared to PBS (median 42.2, I.I 9.8 % vol). None of the treatments reduced the lesion depth. The superficial layer was observed only in the groups treated with fluoride, M. chamomilla + fluoride and Periogard, with the thickest layer found in the enamel treated with M. chamomilla + fluoride (p=0.0166). The association of M. chamomilla with fluoride reduced cariogenic microorganisms and protected the enamel against demineralization, suggesting its potential as a complementary strategy in caries prevention.