[Inhibitive effect of extracts of Galla Chinesis on caries development in rats].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the inhibitive effect of Galla Chinesis extract (GCE) and GCE-B on dental caries formation and plaque microbiology in rats.

METHODS

SPF-SD rats were infected with S. sobrinus to establish the caries rat model. The rats' teeth were treated with GCE and GCE-B topically twice a day for 5 weeks, or with NaF and CHX as positive controls, and deionized water as negative controls. The rats were then killed with CO2 asphyxiation. The dental caries of the rats were evaluated with Larson's modification of Keyes' system.

RESULTS

The treatments with GCE and GCE-B significantly reduced the incidence of smooth-surface caries compared with the negative controls (43%-61% reduction, P < 0.05). No caries of Ds level was detected in the rats treated with NaF, GCE, or CHX. The treatment with GCE-B reduced the severity of smooth-surface caries compared with the negative controls, but with no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The incidence of sulcal caries were reduced significantly by all treatments (16%-41% reductions, P < 0.05) compared with the negative controls. The sulcal caries severity scores were significantly lower in the rats treated with NaF, GCE, CHX and GCE-B (Ds level: 21%-47% reductions, Dm level: 21%-65% reductions) than in the negative controls (P < 0.05). The reduction of Dx score by GCE-B (60% reduction) was significant (P < 0.05). No caries of Dx level was detected in the rats treated with NaF, GCE and CHX.

CONCLUSION

GCE and GCE-B have anticaries effect in vivo, and GCE shows stronger effect than GCE-B.