Isothiocyanates sucrose dependent adherence

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) IFO 13955 was obtained from the Institute for Fermentation, Osaka, Japan. S. mutans IFO 13955, was cultured on BHI (Brain Heart Infusion) broth, and each isothiocyanate was added in 80% aqueous N,N-dimethylformamide (0.05 mL) or 80% aqueous ethanol solution (0.05 mL), and then added to the test tube containing 4.94 mL of BHI broth and 1% sucrose. The test tube was allowed to stand at an angle of 30 for 24-48 h at 37 C. The BHI broth was removed and the residue was dried. The weight of the residue was then determined. The sucrose dependent adherence of 5. mutans IFO 13955 was represented by the relative percentage compared with the adherence in the absence of isothiocyanate. All tests were run in triplicate and averaged. 

Figure 1. Inhibitory effect of the mlkenyl isothiocyanates on sucrose dependent adherence by growing cells ofS. mutans IFO 13955,...

Isothiocyanate has been found to have an inhibitory effect on the sucrose dependent adherence by growing cells of mutans streptococci. In addition, the anticaries effect of isothiocyanate was confirmed by in vivo tests using rats. The anticaries mechanism of isothiocyemate seems to be an antibacterial effect rather than the inhibition of enzymatic glucan synthesis. The anticaries mechanism by isothiocyanate is considered to be opposite that of oolong tea extract. 

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