Effect of Octenidol® mouthrinse on cell metabolism and cell number

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the effect of the mouthrinse Octenidol® (Octinidin) on metabolism and number of fibroblasts and epithelium cells in comparison to other oral antiseptics and in relation to contact time. Methods: Besides Octenidol® the following mouthrinses were used: Chlorhexamed® 0,2% (CHX), Listerine® (essential oils), Meridol® (AmF/ZnF), Betaisodona® (PVP-Jod); control: medium only. The cells, human primary gingiva fibroblasts (HFIB-G, Provitro) and human primary nasal epithelium cells (HNEPC, Provitro), were cultivated in cell specific medium (initial cell number: 2x10E5/ml), than they were treated with the mouthrinses for 1, 5, and 15 min. Each test was carried out 12 times. Subsequently metabolism activity (MTT-test) and cell number (cell counter) were determined. Statistics: Two-way analysis of variance and subsequent Dunnett tests, additional t-tests (adjusted by the method of Bonferroni). Results: For both parameters a significant effect of the mouthrinse as well as the contact time in both cell lines was observed (p<0.001). Moreover, in metabolism activity an interaction between mouthrinse and contact time was found (p<0.01). In both cell lines a significant difference between any mouthrinse and the control was observed (p<0.0001). Between Octenidol® and the other mouthrinses and contact times no significant difference in metabolism activity of both cell lines could be found (p>0.005). Regarding the number of fibroblasts the effect of Octenidol® was less compared to Chlorhexamed®, Meridol® and Listerine® after 1 and 5 min.; the difference was significant (p<0.005). Regarding the number of epithelium cells Octenidol® showed no difference to the other mouthrinses after 1 and 5 min. (p>0.005). After 15 min. a difference was found to Chlorhexamed® only (p<0.005). Conclusions: As any of the oral antiseptics Octenidol® showed a negative effect on metabolism activity of human fibroblasts and epithelium cells. However, regarding the number of cells Octinodol® showed a less negative effect.