Desenvolvimento de uma solução irrigadora de canais radiculares utilizando o extrato de plantas medicinais do semiárido

Abstract

Medicinal plants are important sources of search for new therapeutic agents in the fight against infections or with biological activities. The objective of this work was to develop an irrigation solution of root canals, with antimicrobial activity, using plants traditionally used by populations, present in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The plants were: Ximenia americana L., Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) LP Queiroz, Croton blanchetianus Baill, Schinopsis brasiliensis L. and Momordica charantia L. Hydroalcoholic extracts were prepared in concentrations (v / v) of 50, 70 and 90% and by the extractive methods of ultrasound, turbolysis and maceration. In the determination of the antimicrobial activity of these extracts, the broth microdilution method was used through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal and bactericidal concentration (MFC / MBC) with standard strains of Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) and Candida albicans (ATCC 11006). In the phytochemical prospection, the content of total polyphenols, total flavonoids and tannins condensed by ultraviolet spectrophotometry was determined. The major chemical compound was identified through high performance liquid chromatography and the physicochemical characterization of the formulation was performed. While in the thermal characterization the thermal profiles of the extract and the excipients used in the preparation of the developed intracanal formulation were drawn. The plants that presented the best antimicrobial activities for the microorganisms tested were: Ximenia americana L., Schinopsis brasiliensis L. and Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L.P. Queiroz. The plant chosen to develop the intracanal formulation was Ximenia americana L., because it had better antimicrobial activity (7.8 to 125 μg / mL). The content of total polyphenols (385.52 ± 15.90), total flavonoids (14.79 ± 0.70) and condensed tannins (217.30 ± 5.22) of this plant were also determined. Further tests were carried out to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the formulation produced in order to verify interferences of the excipients in the final activity of the developed solution, which did not show interference of the antimicrobial activity. The major chemical compound was gallic acid. Thus medicinal plants are an alternative in the bioprospecting of antimicrobials. However, further studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of this solution in vivo. Ex vivo studies are the next steps for a future clinical application of this product under specific conditions of clinical need.