The Effect Of Lalang Grass Rhizome Toothpaste On Streptococcus Mutans And Candida Albicans In Saliva

Background & ObjectiveLalang grass rhizome is the rhizome of the gramineous plants Imperata cylindrical (L.) P. Bcauv. var. major (Nees) C. E. Hubb. It was first recorded in Shennong’s Herbal, named as imperatae rhizome at first, for its rhizome is white. Lalang grass rhizome is cold-natured and sweat flavor, and is assigned to lung, small intestine and stomach meridian. The effect of lalang grass rhizome is cooling blood and hemostasis, reducing fever and causing dieresis. There are a few active components is lalang grass rhizome including carbohydrate, pentacyclic triterpenoids and organic acids. Pharmacological action of lalang grass rhizome is extensive, such as dieresis, hemostasis, antibacterial action, immunoregulation, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor action. It was used to treat hematemesis, gonorrhea, difficulty in micturition, acute nephritis, hepatitis, edema, blood urine, jaundice, hemostasis and eliminate dephlogisticate. Since it was low price and effective in treatment, lalang grass rhizome was favorable by many doctors. Its exploitation prospect is huge for its extensive resource, convenient prepare, stable and safety pharmacodynamic action. As for its extensive pharmacodynamic action, especially for its effectiveness in treating hemorrhage of gingiva, the extractive of lalang grass rhizome was prepared into toothpaste as a daily product in mouth care. The saliva of the patients that had periodontal diseases such as periodontitis and gingivitis were collected before and after treatment of this toothpaste. DNA of two microbes including streptococcus mutans the main etiology of dental caries and candida albicans—the main etiology of oral infecition were extracted. The copies modulation of these two microbes before and after treatment by the toothpaste were detected by fluorescent quantitation PCR (Taqman probe method) in order to explore the effect of this toothpaste on periodontal diseases.MethodsDouble-blind and randomized test were designed in this experiment.67 cases of patients were selected in September 2010, including patients with periodontitis and gingivitis from a factory in Nanhai, Foshan. The toothpastes labeled with A or B were and toothbrushes were delivered to these patients and all the participants were instructed to use this toothpaste and toothbrush in the morning and evening every day. The saliva samples of these patients were collected before and after using this toothpaste for 1 w. DNA of streptococcus mutans and candida albicans in the saliva were extracted. The DNA of standard strain of streptococcus mutans and candida albicans were also extracted. The standard DNA was determined for its density and made into standard preparation with different density. Fluorescent quantitation PCR (Taqman probe method) was used to detect the DNA of streptococcus mutans and candida albicans, and the copies of these two microbes in each sample were calculated according to the standard curves made by the standard preparation. SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the modulation of the copies of these two microbes before and after using of lalang grass rhizome toothpaste. Results1. The comparison of candida albicans content after before and after using thetoothpaste in A and B group.A good linear correlation were shown for standard preparation of candida albicans (coefficient correlation r was greater than 0.99). The copies of candida albicans of each sample were calculated by the corresponding formula of the standard curves. As a result, before using the toothpaste labeled with A, the median of baseline concentration for candida albicans in A group was 4.75×106copies/mg. After using A toothpaste for 1w, this data significantly decreased to 1.80×106 copies/mg (P=0.008<0.05)。Before using the toothpaste labeled with B, the median of baseline concentration for candida albicans in B group was 5.15×106 copies/mg. After using B toothpaste for 1w, this data increased to 7.05×106 copies/mg (P=0.504)。These data suggest that A toothpaste can decreased the content of candida albicans.2. The comparison of streptococcus mutans content after before and after using thetoothpaste in A and B group.A good linear correlation were shown for standard preparation of streptococcus mutans (coefficient correlation r was greater than 0.99). The copies of streptococcus mutans of each sample were calculated by the corresponding formula of the standard curves. As a result, before using the toothpaste labeled with A, the median of baseline concentration for streptococcus mutans in A group was 1.53×106 copies/mg. After using A toothpaste for 1w, this data significantly decreased to 5.71 X105 copies/mg (P=0.003<0.05)。Before using the toothpaste labeled with B, the median of baseline concentration for streptococcus mutans in B group was 2.75×106 copies/mg. After using B toothpaste for 1w, this data significantly decreased to 9.01×105copies/mg (P=0.003<0.05)。These data suggest that A and B toothpaste can both decreased the content of streptococcus mutans. Further statistical analyse using Mann-Whitney Test revealed that no significanc was found between the modulation of streptococcus mutans after treatment with toothpaste A and B (P=0.74>0.05).3. DisclosureAfter completion of this experiment, it was disclosed that A toothpaste was Liubizhi toothpaste contained 6% lalang grass rhizome extraction and B toothpaste was drug-free toothpaste.Conclusion1. Fluorescent quantitation PCR (Taqman probe method) is a simple, specific and quantitative method to detect the copies of streptococcus mutans and candida albicans in saliva.2. Our data suggest that the utilization of toothpaste contained lalang grass rhizome can effectively inhibit the growth of candida albicans which is the main etiology of oral infection in patients.3. Our data suggest whether the utilization of toothpaste contained lalang grass rhizome can effectively inhibit the growth of streptococcus mutans which is the main etiology of dental caries in patients awaits for further study.