Natural Plant Chemicals May Uproot Tooth Decay

Natural Plant Chemicals May Uproot Tooth Decay

While licorice candy may raise the risk of dental caries, a chemical found in licorice root—a legume native to parts of Asia, India, and Europe—may prevent plaque buildup on teeth. According to researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, the natural chemical trans-chalcone blocks the action of a key enzyme responsible for encouraging bacterial growth, and its use in oral care products may be key to preventing biofilm accumulation, they say.

The findings, “Molecular Basis of Streptococcus mutans Sortase A Inhibition by the Flavonoid Natural Product Trans-Chalcone,” published online in June by Chemical Communications, state that trans-chalcone—a naturally occurring chemical found in licorice root—is capable of inhibiting the action of S. mutans during in vitro study. To reach this conclusion, researchers investigated the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme Sortase A, which enables bacteria to make biofilms, analyzing the role trans-chalcone plays in preventing this enzyme from properly functioning. The licorice root-based chemical was found to inhibit bacterial growth.

Researchers are encouraged by this new insight, and plan to expand their study to include similar natural products. Their hope is that natural bacterial inhibitors will be incorporated into consumer oral health products for long-term preservation of dentition and improved overall health. Wm. Wrigley Jr Co supported the study.

Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter

June 2015