{"id":454101,"date":"2025-09-27T01:02:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T01:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/454101\/"},"modified":"2025-09-27T01:02:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T01:02:12","slug":"natural-plant-compound-shows-promise-for-treating-gum-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/454101\/","title":{"rendered":"Natural Plant Compound Shows Promise for Treating Gum Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Bleeding<\/a>A natural compound called morin, found in fruits, teas, and nuts, is showing promise as a new tool in the fight against gum disease. Researchers in Brazil encapsulated this substance in a controlled-release powder that mimics powdered milk, with the aim of creating oral care products that work without the side effects often seen in traditional treatments. Credit: Stock<\/p>\n

Morin-based powder, derived from guava leaves, apple peel, and figs, can be gradually released using polymers and offers a potential substitute for antibiotics.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A powder formulated from morin, a natural compound found in guava leaves, apple and fig peels, certain teas, and almonds, demonstrated antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity against the bacteria responsible for periodontal disease.<\/p>\n

Researchers expect that delivering the substance through polymers for controlled release could support nonsurgical therapies and serve as an alternative to antibiotics in managing harmful microorganisms.<\/p>\n

In laboratory experiments, scientists at the Araraquara School of Dentistry at S\u00e3o Paulo State University (FOAr-UNESP) in Brazil evaluated morin on a multispecies biofilm composed of different bacterial strains designed to mimic the disease\u2019s impact on patients\u2019 gums.<\/p>\n

The results were published in the Archives of Oral Biology. The study was conducted by Luciana Solera Sales during her doctoral studies at FOAr-UNESP, under the supervision of Fernanda Louren\u00e7\u00e3o Brighenti. FAPESP supported the study through a doctorate and a research internship abroad.<\/p>\n

\"Morin<\/a>A platform developed at FOAr-UNESP processes morin to obtain it in the form of a fine powder, similar to powdered milk. The final product is intended for use by people with reduced motor skills, such as older adults and patients with special needs, who are unable to brush their teeth properly. Credit: S\u00e3o Paulo Research Foundation<\/p>\n

Other researchers involved in the study included Andr\u00e9ia Bagliotti Meneguin from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Araraquara (FCFAr) at UNESP; Hernane da Silva Barud from the University of Araraquara (UNIARA); and Michael Robert Milward from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Birmingham in England.<\/p>\n

Developing oral hygiene platforms<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment, we have a fine powder obtained through spray drying \u2013 which is the same equipment used to make powdered milk \u2013 that can be used to make various types of oral hygiene products. The idea is to provide a platform that acts as an adjunct and can be useful, for example, for people with reduced motor skills who are unable to brush their teeth properly, such as older adults and patients with special needs,\u201d says Brighenti.<\/p>\n

Morin was chosen because it is a natural, inexpensive, and easily accessible compound.<\/p>\n

\u201cMorin is a flavonoid that can be obtained from various fruits. But simply eating it isn\u2019t enough; the substance needs to be processed. The idea is to take advantage of this natural compound, its benefits, and its advantages, and transform it all so that it can be used to prevent and treat tooth decay and periodontal disease,\u201d Sales points out.<\/p>\n

Controlled release and product improvement<\/p>\n

Brighenti and her colleagues have been developing what she describes as platforms that enable various substances to act on the diseases under investigation. She explains that this approach is important because most natural compounds do not dissolve easily in water.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a constant flow of saliva. We produce, on average, 1 milliliter of saliva per minute. Anything we put in our mouths is quickly removed by saliva, especially because it has a smell and taste, which stimulates salivary flow. When we have something that sticks to the mucous membrane of the mouth, the inside of our cheeks, and our teeth, it gives us an additional advantage. This controlled release also helps us control the toxicity and stability of the substance,\u201d the professor explains.<\/p>\n

\"Luciana<\/a>Luciana Solera Sales and Fernanda Brighenti at the Biochemical and Microbiological Research Laboratory at FOAr-UNESP. Credit: Fernanda Brighenti<\/p>\n

In the case of morin, the challenge was to optimize what the group had developed thus far, making it more appealing to potential patients while developing something scalable for the industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also aim to provide an alternative to products currently available on the market that don\u2019t meet the demand because they have some side effects reported by patients, such as taste changes and increased tartar buildup, as well as stains on the teeth with prolonged use,\u201d Brighenti adds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started developing these systems in the form of tablets, films, and microparticles. But until then, they were too large and unfeasible for oral use. In my PhD, we tried to improve these products by making them smaller. That\u2019s why I developed this format, which looks like powdered milk. I prepared a solution containing sodium alginate and gellan gum to encapsulate morin in a controlled-release system, which is already widely used for drugs but isn\u2019t yet widely used in dentistry,\u201d Sales explains.<\/p>\n

Global burden of oral disease<\/p>\n

Periodontal disease develops when biofilm or bacterial plaque accumulates on the teeth. This sticky layer, made up of bacteria and food particles, can damage the gums over time.<\/p>\n

Its advanced stage, known as periodontitis, ranks as the sixth most common chronic disease globally. Early symptoms may include bleeding, but as the condition worsens, it can eventually cause tooth loss.<\/p>\n

Proper oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and using fluoride toothpaste, can considerably decrease this risk.<\/p>\n

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022, nearly half of the world\u2019s population (45%) suffers from oral diseases, amounting to approximately 3.5 billion people.<\/p>\n

The researchers plan to continue testing morin first in animal models and then in clinical studies to investigate its other properties.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe observed with the naked eye that the in vitro biofilm treated with morin in the laboratory is less stained than when treated in its free form. So, it\u2019s possible that there\u2019s an advantage, that this system helps prevent tooth discoloration. We also need to test, for example, whether morin maintains the balance of the oral cavity, because we don\u2019t want to eliminate all bacteria from patients\u2019 mouths,\u201d says Brighenti.<\/p>\n

Reference: \u201cAnti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial evaluation of morin\u201d by Luciana Solera Sales, Benjamin Hewitt, Maria Muchova, Fernanda Louren\u00e7\u00e3o Brighenti, Sarah A. Kuehne, Melissa M. Grant and Michael R. Milward, 24 June 2025, Archives of Oral Biology.
DOI: 10.1016\/j.archoralbio.2025.106343<\/a><\/p>\n

Funding: Funda\u00e7\u00e3o de Amparo \u00e0 Pesquisa do Estado de S\u00e3o Paulo<\/p>\n

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