Effect of a Berry Polyphenolic Fraction on Biofilm Formation, Adherence Properties and Gene Expression of <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> and Its Biocompatibility with Oral Epithelial Cells

• Main Authors: Mariem Souissi, Amel Ben Lagha, Kamel Chaieb, Daniel Grenier
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Antibiotics
• Subjects: anti-biofilm; anti-adhesion; berry polyphenols; epithelial cells; quorum sensing; <i>S. mutans</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/10/1/46

The ability of <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> to adhere to oral surfaces and form biofilm is a key step in the tooth decay process. The aim of this study was to investigate a berry (wild blueberry, cranberry, and strawberry) polyphenolic fraction, commercialized as Orophenol^®, for its antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and anti-adhesion properties on <i>S. mutans</i>. Moreover, the biocompatibility of the fraction with human oral epithelial cells was assessed. Phenolic acids, flavonoids (flavonols, anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols), and procyanidins made up 10.71%, 19.76%, and 5.29% of the berry polyphenolic fraction, respectively, as determined by chromatography and mass spectrometry. The berry polyphenolic preparation dose-dependently inhibited <i>S. mutans</i> biofilm formation while not reducing bacterial growth. At concentrations ranging from 250 to 1000 µg/mL, the fraction inhibited the adhesion of <i>S. mutans</i> to both saliva-coated hydroxyapatite and saliva-coated nickel–chrome alloy. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that incubating <i>S. mutans</i> with the berry polyphenolic fraction was associated with a reduced expression of <i>luxS</i> gene, which regulates quorum sensing in <i>S. mutans</i>. The berry fraction did not show any significant cytotoxicity in an oral epithelial cell model. In conclusion, Orophenol^®, which is a mixture of polyphenols from wild blueberry, cranberry and strawberry, possesses interesting anti-caries properties while being compatible with oral epithelial cells.