Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Effects of Reuterin-Related Compounds to Periodontopathic Bacteria

OBJECTIVE: Lactobacillus reuteriis one of the probiotics that possesses preventive effects on oral infectionsincluding dental caries and periodontal disease. Reuterin is a bacteriocin-like compound produced by L. reuteri and plays an important role in the probiotic effects. However, it is difficult to obtain reuterin due to the general lability of its aldehyde moiety. Therefore, fourteen stable reuterin-related compounds (RRCs) were chemically synthesized. Here, we investigated the effects of RRCs on periodontopathic bacteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antibacterial activity of RRCs on pathogenic microorganisms including periodontopathic bacteria was determined. Moreover, the effects of RRCs on biofilm formation by Fusobacterium nucleatumwere examined by a crystal violet biofilm formation assay. Cytotoxicity of RRCs was evaluated by a lactate dehydrogenase assay using oral keratinocytes. RESULTS: Among synthesized RRCs, RRC-04, -05, -09, -10, -12, -13, and -14, exhibited antibacterial activities against periodontopathic bacteria. RRCs, except for RRC-06, -07, -08, and -11, significantly suppressed biofilm formation to 60-80 % of the control. Most RRCs, except for RRC-12 and -13, were not cytotoxic to human oral keratinocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The synthesized RRCs can be potent novel oral care products for the prevention of periodontitis without adverse effects.