TORRES, J. L. M.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/0830401830736733; TORRES, José Lucas Medeiros.
Resumo:
Changes in the ecology of bacteria that make up the oral biofilm, as well as in the population
proportion of this microbiota, promote dysbiosis and favor the emergence of simple or even
complex pathological states. Polymicrobial dysbiotic biofilms may be tolerant to the immune
responses of the host organism and to antimicrobial treatments, allowing the persistence of
some bacteria, such as Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli, which have a potential
relationship with infections in oral wounds, periodontitis, peri-implantitis and infections in the
root canal system. Therefore, the search for alternative substances to control these resistant
microorganisms has aroused great scientific interest, expanding the use of biomaterials and
herbal medicines in health. The present work aimed to evaluate the antibacterial potential of
chitosan-based scaffolds incorporated with essential oils (EOs) of Origanum vulgare L. and
Thymus vulgaris L. against strains of Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. The
antibacterial potential was evaluated by reading the strangulation halos formed around
chitosan-based scaffolds incorporated with thyme EO, oregano EO and thyme and oregano
EO against strains of Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC-29212) and Escherichia coli (CCCD-
E003), using the well agar diffusion methodology. For this, Mueller Hinton Agar was used as
a culture medium in Petri dishes, and holes of 6 mm in diameter were formed with the aid of a
mold, originating the wells. The plates were inoculated on the surface by the microorganism
using a swab, then they were incubated in a bacteriological oven at 37 ºC for 24 hours.
Scaffolds, in the form of discotheques, were aseptically deposited in the wells of inoculated
media, which were incubated at 37 ºC for 24 hours. After incubation, the plates were observed
for the homogeneity of bacterial growth, and the measurement of the diameter of the
inhibitory halo was carried out, with the aid of a millimeter ruler, in cases where inhibition of
bacterial growth was verified. Tests were performed in duplicate and results correspond to
mean values. It was observed that the association of chitosan with the EOs of Origanum
vulgare L. and Thymus vulgaris L. has antibacterial activity against strains of Enterococcus
faecalis and Escherichia coli. For the scaffolds incorporated with the EO of Origanum
vulgare L., the formation of inhibition halos of 14 and 16 mm was obtained for the strains of
Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli, respectively. For the scaffolds incorporated with
the EO of Thymus vulgaris L., the formation of inhibition halos of 14 and 16 mm was also
obtained for the strains of Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli, respectively. However,
for those scaffolds incorporated with the association between the EOs of Origanum vulgare L.
and Thymus vulgaris L., the formation of inhibition halos of 12 and 16 mm was obtained for
the strains of Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli, respectively. The association of
chitosan with the EOs of Origanum vulgare L. and Thymus vulgaris L. has antibacterial
activity, acting as a bactericide against the tested strains of Enterococcus faecalis and
Escherichia coli.