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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
Published on: March 31, 2021
Clinical reduction of S. mutans in pre-school children using a novel liquorice root extract lollipop: a pilot study
M C Peters1, J A Tallman, T M Braun
1Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, 1100 N University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. mcpete@umich.edu
Aim:
To determine the clinical effect of a simple herbal caries-prevention protocol aimed at reduction of Streptococcus mutans (SM) in young children in a pre-school setting.
Study Design:
Proof-of-principle pilot study.
Methods:
To prove the concept this pilot study delivered a clinical intervention using sugar-free lollipops containing liquorice root extract. Regimen: Supervised herbal lollipops, twice daily for 3 weeks. Species-specific monoclonal antibody testing of saliva provided SM counts. Children were grouped in high, medium and low caries-risk using baseline SM-levels as risk-indicator. Bacterial numbers at baseline, during intervention, and for 9 weeks post-intervention were compared.
Statistics:
SM levels were analysed using GEE modelling.
Results:
High-risk children showed the steepest early decrease in mean log-SM (P<.001). At end of a follow-up period, the log-SM decrease moved the high-risk group down to moderate-risk level. High-risk children showed a decrease in fitted mean SM% not seen in other groups (P<.001). The decrease reached a nadir around 22-days post-intervention. Twice-daily use of herbal lollipop significantly reduced both number and relative percent of SM in high-risk children. SM numbers were reduced for 22 days after the last lollipop, stabilized and then began to rebound.
Conclusion:
A potential for simple effective caries-prevention for high-risk children has been demonstrated. Encouraging results warrant randomised clinical trials (RCT) of liquorice root in herbal lollipops or alternative modes of delivery.
