Systemic Infection Model by Oral Micro-organisms and Screening of Antibacterial Substances in Natural Products

Objective: To investigate the preventive agents for oral disease with natural products, P. ginseng, S. miltiorrhizae, P. americana, C. boreale, C. sappan, C. longa, and Q. aliena were examined. Method: We performed fractionations and column chromatographys on the basis of bioassay-directed fractionation, successively. We investigated the antibacterial activity against S. mutans JC-2, A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, and P. intermedia by MIC, and the adhesion to hydroxyapatite beads with human saliva (S-HA) by S. mutans JC-2. The invasion of A. actinomycetemcomitans into KB cells by tanshinone ¥±A and volatile substances was examined. Results: Crude saponins of P. ginseng, flowers of C. boreale, leaves of C. sappan, and leaves of Q. aliena showed the antibacterial activity against S. mutans JC-2 and the inhibitory effect on the adsorption to S-HA. Roots of S. miltiorrhizae, flowers of C. boreale and roots of P. americana inhibited the growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans. The volatile substance from C. boreale showed antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis and P. intermedia over the concentration of 1.28%. A. actinomycetemcomitans invasion to KB cells was inhibited by the extract in a dose-dependent manner. The isolated tanshinone ¥±A, linarin and a-spinasterol showed significant antibacterial activity against both S. mutans JC-2 and A. actinomycetemcomitans. Conclusion: These results suggest that antibacterial activities of S. miltiorrhizae, C. boreale and P. americana against oral microganisms were established by tanshinone ¥±A, linarin and a-spinasterol in part, respectively. Supported by a grant No. 01-PJ5-PG3-20507-0100 Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare.