Effect of Turkish Propolis on Caries Development

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro and in vivo effects of Turkish propolis on caries development. Methods: At the in vitro part of study propolis was serially fractionated into ethanol, methanol, chloroform, hexane, ethyl acetate and propylen glycol. Then, solutions were removed by evaporation and propolis extracts were obtained except propylen glycol which has high evaporation temperature. Extracts were used after 80% of ethanol dilution and propolis + propylen glycol was used after filtration. The ability of these extracts to inhibit Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus growth and adherence to a glass surface were examined. In in vivo caries study sixty female Wistar albino rats were infected with Streptococcus sobrinus. Teeth of all rats except for (Group 1) control group, treated topically twice daily for 5 weeks as follows: (Group 2) ethanolic extract of propolis, (Group 3) hexane extract of propolis, (Group 4) 0,2 % chlorhexidine (positive control group), (Group 5) 80 % ethanol. At the end of the experimental period animals were sacrified. Lower left jaw was aseptically dissected and was used for detection of Streptococcus sobrinus at the dental plaque. Then molar teeth at the left and right mandible were used for caries detection according to Keyes Scoring system. Results: Ethanolic extract of propolis has similar effect with positive control group for reduction of Streptococcus sobrinus at dental plaque of rats (p<0.05). Smooth surface and sulcal caries significantly reduced at hexane extract of propolis and ethanolic extract of propolis treated groups compared with control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed that Turkish propolis had good in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity against mutans streptococci. In addition, propolis was found to be as effective as chlorhexidine on inhibition of caries development.