Antibacterial and anti-virulence potential of oil-resin and isolated compounds of the Copaifera spp. species against the main periodontal agents

Abstract

Periodontal diseases comprise inflammatory processes of infectious origin that affect the gingival tissues, called gingivitis and/or the supporting tissues of the teeth, called periodontitis. These diseases are consequences of inflammatory and immune reactions in periodontal tissues induced by microorganisms of bacterial plaque, damaging the tissue and alveolar bone. The main microorganisms associated with these conditions are P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans. Bacterial biofilm is a key step in the development of infection. Natural products can be considered an alternative in the discovery of new drugs to combat the germs that cause periodontal disease, taking into account that the drugs currently used to treat these infections have adverse effects. The plants contribute greatly in the discovery of new antimicrobial through their secondary metabolites. One of the plant species best known and used in Brazil are "copaiferas", the Copaifera genus popularly known as "copaibeiras", "pau d'oleo" and "copaiba', are easily found in the Amazon regions and central-western Brazil. Since the sixteenth century the copaiba oil has been used in folk medicine as treatment of various diseases such as syphilis, bronchitis, sinusitis, strep throat, pneumonia, dermatitis, eczema, and as antimicrobial, anticancer, antitumor, among others. In view of the biological properties of the genus Copaifera, we seek then with this project is to evaluate different biological activities in resin oils of C. paupera, C. reticulata and C. pubiflora and isolated compounds of these on the bacteria P. gingivalis and A . actinomycetemcomitans ATCC strains and clinical isolates, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), antibiofilm activity, activity of the oils resin and isolated compounds on the virulence factors produced by these bacteria; and to evaluate the expression of some genes encoding virulence factors in these microorganisms. These studies are valuable tools and should contribute to the treatment of periodontal diseases and to better study of plants belonging to the genus Copaifera. (AU)