Preventive effects of taxifolin on dental caries in vitro and in vivo.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to explore the inhibitory effect of taxifolin (TAX) on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) in vitro and evaluated the anti-caries efficacy of TAX in vivo. DESIGN: The anti-microbial and anti-biofilm properties of TAX were examined on the S. mutans, and the results were preliminarily verified by quantitative real-time PCR. Polarized light microscopy and transverse microradiography were used to detect the effect of TAX on inhibiting enamel demineralization. The effect of TAX on the remineralization of demineralized enamel was analyzed by a microhardness tester, atomic force microscope, and transverse microradiography. The rat dental caries model was constructed to explore the anti-caries effect of TAX in vivo. RESULTS: The minimum inhibitory concentration of TAX against S. mutans was 1 mg/mL. The 1 mg/mL TAX impeded the biofilm formation, destroyed the biofilm structure, and effectively prevented enamel demineralization caused by S. mutans. Both the 0.5 mg/mL and 1 mg/mL TAX-treated groups exhibited a higher percentage of surface microhardness recovery, along with lower surface roughness, mineral loss, and lesion depth. Additionally, 1 mg/mL TAX demonstrated the ability to inhibit the initiation and progression of caries in rats, while also proving to be biologically safe. CONCLUSIONS: TAX had a significant inhibitory effect on S. mutans, could inhibit enamel demineralization and promote remineralization of demineralized enamel, and showed a promising anti-caries effect in vivo.