Effects of long chain fatty acids oleic and linoleic, on the growth of the cariogenic bacterium streptococcus mutans
Date
2012-06-18Author
Hughes, P.I.
McEvoy, K.E.
Rowan, N.J.
Brady, D.B.
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Show full item recordAbstract
Objective- This study evaluated the efficacy of long-chain fatty acids, Oleic (C18:1) and Linoleic
(C18:2) acid on the growth of Streptococcus mutans. S. mutans is one of the primary etiological
agents associated with the onset of dental caries which is considered to be an oral health epidemic
in industrialized countries. Assays were carried out to assess the viability of the oral pathogen in the
presence of these long chain fatty acids (FAs).
Design- The FA’s were prepared in 2% ethanol (EtOH) to ensure bacterial viability was not
affected by the solvent. Concentrations of 0.1mM ranging up to 50mM were prepared for analysis.
S. mutans was cultured at 37°C for 18 h in Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHI) and assays were
performed in sterile 96 well plates over a period of 24 h. Growth inhibition was recorded using
optical density (OD) readings, from which they were evaluated and tabulated.
Results- Linoleic acid showed significantly higher antimicrobial activity in contrast to Oleic acid.
Linoleic displayed up to 97% inhibition of S. mutans growth during early stationary phase, whereas
the highest inhibition by oleic acid at this point was 38%.
Conclusions- Linoleic acid exhibited a higher level of antibacterial activity towards the cariogenic
bacterium than its monounsaturated counterpart oleic acid. It is questionable whether the presence
of a second double bond enhances the antimicrobial activity of linoleic acid. Antimicrobial FA’s
such as these have worthy potential for applications within the oral healthcare industry in the
reduction and prevention of carious lesions.
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