Original Article

Year : 2025 | Volume : 16 | Issue : 1 | Page : 38-47

Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity and Anti-biofilm Activity Of A Novel Dentifrice Containing 4-Hydroxycinnamic Acid: An In-Vitro Study

Manjiri Bhate1, Ravindra Kumar Jain2, A.S. Smiline Girija3, Raghunandhakumar4

1-Post Graduate Resident, 2-Professor and Head, Department of Orthodontics, 3-Professor, Department of Microbiology, 4-Associate Professor, Cancer and Stem Cell Research Lab, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai-600 077, India

Address for Correspondence:

Dr Ravindra Kumar Jain

Professor and Head,

Department of Orthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals,

Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences,

Chennai, India.

E-mail: ravindrakumar@saveetha.com

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Evaluating biocompatibility is critical for assessing the safety and therapeutic potential of compounds, often serving as a preliminary step in product development. This study aims to evaluate the biocompatibility and anti-biofilm activity of a novel dentifrice containing 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (4-HCA) against Streptococcus mutans (SM) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present in vitro study involved three groups- Group 1- commercially available dentifrice as control, Group 2- 0.2% 4-HCA dentifrice, Group 3- 0.4% 4-HCA dentifrice. The antibiofilm efficacy of the test dentifrices was assessed using colony-forming unit (CFU) counts and the Crystal Violet assay. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT assay and microscopic examination of human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells.

RESULTS:

ANTIBIOFILM ACTIVITY: The CFU counts for SM and LA were highest in the control group, followed by the 0.2% 4-HCA group, and lowest in the 0.4% 4-HCA group. Crystal Violet assay results showed significant inhibition of biofilm formation in both 4-HCA groups compared to the control.

BIOCOMPATIBILITY: The MTT assay indicated that Group 3 had the highest cell viability and proliferation rates 24 horse after a 2 minute exposure to the conditioned medium across the different dilutions (1:40, 1:100, and 1:1000), as compared to Groups 2 and 1, indicating better biocompatibility. Morphological analysis of HGF cells showed normal spindle-shaped morphology in cells treated with Groups 2 and 3.

CONCLUSION: The novel dentifrice containing 0.4% 4-HCA demonstrates significant anti-biofilm activity against SM and LA and is biocompatible with HGF cells. This study supports the development of 4-HCA-based dentifrices as safe and effective oral hygiene products.

KEYWORDS: Cytotoxicity, Antibiofilm, Dentifrice, Orthodontic, Hydroxycinnamic Acid

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

SOURCES OF FUNDING

None

How to cite this article: Manjiri Bhate, Ravindra Kumar Jain, A.S. Smiline Girija, Raghunandhakumar. Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity and Anti-biofilm Activity Of A Novel Dentifrice Containing 4-Hydroxycinnamic Acid: An In-Vitro Study. Int J Orthod Rehabil 2025; 16 (1) 38-47.