Antimicrobial, anti-adhesion, anti-biofilm properties of goji berry (Lycium barbarum) against periodontal bacteria: potential benefits for periodontal diseases

Amee Dilip Sanghavi; Aditi Chopra; Ashmeet Shah; Richard Lobo; Padmaja A. Shenoy

doi:10.1515/jcim-2022-0214

Article

Antimicrobial, anti-adhesion, anti-biofilm properties of goji berry (Lycium barbarum) against periodontal bacteria: potential benefits for periodontal diseases

Amee Dilip Sanghavi , Aditi Chopra , Ashmeet Shah , Richard Lobo and Padmaja A. Shenoy

Published/Copyright: November 21, 2022

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From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 20 Issue 1

Abstract

Objectives

Lycium barbarum, commonly known as goji berry, Himalayan berry, or Tibetian berry, is emerging as a popular “superfood” with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, its use for the management of oral inflammatory diseases has not been explored. The present study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial, anti-adhesion, anti-biofilm, and cytotoxic properties of an ethanolic extract of L. barbarum (LBE) against common oral and periodontal pathogens.

Methods

The antimicrobial properties of LBE against five potential periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Tanerella forsythia) were tested and compared to chlorhexidine and doxycycline using serial dilution and disc diffusion assay. The MTT Assay was performed for evaluating the cytotoxicity and cell viability of the LBE on the gingival fibroblast and modified keratinocyte cell lines. The anti-adhesion and anti-biofilm properties of LBE against P. gingivalis at its minimal bactericidal value were also assessed.

Results

LBE inhibited the growth of periodontal pathogens as compared to control, however, the zone of inhibition of LBE was less when compared to doxycycline and chlorhexidine. The de novo extract showed a maximum zone of inhibition against Tf and Aa. The LBE extract was also compatible to gingival fibroblast tissues and oral keratinocytes at 1 mg/mL.

Conclusions

L. barbarum is a promising alternative to Chlorhexidine for the management of oral and periodontal infections.

Keywords: antimicrobial; goji berry; herb; Lycium barbarum ; periodontal disease; periodontitis; plant

Corresponding author: Dr. Aditi Chopra, Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, Pin: 576104, India, E-mail: aditi.chopra@manipal.edu

Amee Dilip Sanghavi and Aditi Chopra the authors contributed equally and share the first authorship.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Kishore Bhat and his team members at Maratha Mandal’s Central Research Laboratory Maratha Mandal’s NGH Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Belgaum, for the antimicrobial analysis.

Research funding: None declared.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Ethical approval: The research was done in Compliance with Ethical Standards and good laboratory practice standard after obtaining the Institutional Ethics Committee approval, KMC Manipal (IEC: 884/2018).

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Received: 2022-05-26

Accepted: 2022-11-07

Published Online: 2022-11-21

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2022-0214

Keywords for this article

antimicrobial; goji berry; herb; Lycium barbarum; periodontal disease; periodontitis; plant