EFFECTS OF NON-PSYCHOTROPIC PHYTOCANNABINOIDS ON ORAL BACTERIA - IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract

Introduction, aim: Maintaining homeostasis of the oral cavity is associated not only with the immune response and soft tissue metabolism but also the action of commensal and pathogenic bacteria. In the development of dental remedies against pathogenic forms, new/alternative antibiotic agents are being sought. One of the currently studied groups of these substances are the phytocannabinoids, in particular cannabidiol (CBD). The aim of the presented study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of four non- psychotropic phytocannabinoids on selected oral bacteria.Methods: The antimicrobial effects (MIC - minimal inhibition concentrations) of phytocannabinoids were determined in vitro using a standard microdilution technique. The effect of CBD, cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN) and selected phytocannabinoid extracts composed of 50% CBD or CBG was evaluated on Streptococcus mutans CCM 7409 and Porphyromonas gingivalis CCM 3985. The effect of CBD was further tested on Lactobacillus acidophilus CCM 4833, Lactobacillus casei CCM 1825, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans CCM 4688, and Eikenella corrodens CCM 5985. Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) was used as an active comparator.Results: The MIC values of CBD in P. gingivalis were similar to those for CHX (1-2 μg/ml). In case of S. mutans, the lowest MIC was found for CBG (8 μg/ml). For L. casei and L. acidophilus, MIC for CBD was close to MIC for CHX. Specifically for L. casei, CBD was as effective as CHX (MIC 2-4 μg/ml). In L. acidophilus, MICs were determined for CBD (4-8 μg/ml) and for CHX (2-4 μg/ml). For other microbes, the efficacy of CBD was lower than that for CHX. A. actinomycetemcomitans growth was significantly more inhibited by CHX (MIC = 4 μg/ml) than by CBD (MIC > 128 μg/ml). Similar effects were observed for E. corrodens with the following antimicrobial activity for CBD (MIC 16-32 μg/ml) and CHX (MIC 2-4 μg/ml). The tested complex mixtures showed no superior antimicrobial effects than individual phytocannabinoids.Conclusion: The results show that non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids (predominantly CBD) inhibit some oral bacteria. At the same time, they are able to inhibit the growth of periodontopathogens such as P. gingivalis, and in case of CBD also E. corrodens, which suggests the possibility of further research and application in dentistry.

Keywords

• phytocannabinoid
• cannabidiol
• inflammation
• periodontium
• microbiome