In vitro antioxidant activities of mouthrinses and their components.

OBJECTIVES: Several forms of periodontal diseases (PD) are often associated with activated phagocytosing leukocytes and contemporary free radical production. Host antioxidant defenses could benefit from mouthrinses used as adjuncts to counteract plaque-associated bacteria. The aim of the present study was to determine possible antioxidant activity (AA) of a number of antiseptic mouthrinses and of their stated active principles (AP), regardless of their efficacy as antimicrobial agents.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The antioxidant activities of 11 mouthrinses and their active principles were tested with a specific spectrophotometric method. Comet assay was used to test whether pure chemical antioxidant activity actually corresponded to prevention of in vitro DNA fragmentation.

RESULTS: Methylsalicylate-containing mouthrinses were the most effective. Several compounds, and some vehicles, behaved as antioxidants. Fibroblast DNA fragmentation was limited by preincubation with methylsalicylate-containing mouthrinse but was unaffected by treatment with chlorexidine.

CONCLUSION: The results described herein indicate that several mouthrinses possess AA; such a property could be ascribed to either AP or vehicles or both. All the data were obtained in systems in vitro and the demonstration of in vivo AA is necessary. These findings could be useful in the treatment of some forms of PD and should be considered when arranging new mouthrinse formulations.