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Anti-infective activity of simvastatin against Candida and selected periodontal pathogens - An in vitro study
Sayantan Mukherjee1, Pratibha Gopalkrishna1
1Department of Periodontology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Background:
Statins, in addition to their hypolipidemic action, also show antibacterial and antifungal activity. The present research examines the antimicrobial activity of simvastatin (SMV) against periodontal microorganisms: Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Tannerella forsythia (Tf), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), and Candida tropicalis (Ct).
Materials And Methods:
SMV was evaluated for minimum inhibitory concentration by microdilution and for antimicrobial susceptibility by agar disc diffusion. The antibiofilm effect of SMV was further compared with chlorhexidine (0.2%) (CHX) at 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h.
Results:
SMV inhibited all three periodontal bacteria at 0.8 μg/ml and inhibited Ct at a minimum concentration of 50 μg/mL. The mean diameter of the zone of inhibition by SMV for Pi, Fn, Tf, and Ct was 13 ± 0.81 mm, 13.33 ± 0.47 mm, 15.33 ± 0.47 mm, and 14 ± 0.81 mm, respectively. SMV showed a peak reduction in colony-forming unit (CFU) counts from baseline (223.42 ± 10.50 CFU/mm) to 6 h (157.25 ± 8.081 CFU/mm), which was subsequently sustained. Compared with SMV, CHX demonstrated a slower but more consistent reduction in CFU counts for up to 72 h.
Conclusion:
The tested microorganisms were sensitive to SMV. In addition, SMV was as effective as the common antiplaque agent CHX at preventing these organisms and their proliferation in a biofilm environment during the testing periods. The study provides preliminary evidence of the antimicrobial effects of SMV, which warrants further exploration for its dual therapeutic benefits in periodontal applications.
Insights
Simvastatin (SMV) exhibits significant antimicrobial activity against key periodontal pathogens, including bacteria and Candida tropicalis. This statin demonstrated efficacy comparable to chlorhexidine (CHX) in preventing microbial biofilm formation.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Periodontology
Background:
- Statins possess known hypolipidemic properties.
- Emerging evidence suggests statins also exhibit antimicrobial and antifungal activities.
- This study investigates simvastatin's (SMV) antimicrobial effects on specific periodontal microorganisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of simvastatin (SMV) against periodontal pathogens.
- To assess SMV's efficacy in inhibiting the growth and biofilm formation of key oral microorganisms.
- To compare SMV's antibiofilm effect with chlorhexidine (CHX).
Main Methods:
- Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determined by microdilution.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility assessed using agar disc diffusion.
- Antibiofilm activity of SMV compared to 0.2% CHX at various time points (6, 24, 48, 72 hours).
Main Results:
- SMV inhibited Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum at 0.8 μg/ml.
- SMV inhibited Candida tropicalis at a minimum concentration of 50 μg/mL.
- SMV demonstrated significant reduction in colony-forming unit (CFU) counts, comparable to CHX in biofilm inhibition.
Conclusions:
- Periodontal microorganisms tested were susceptible to SMV.
- SMV showed comparable efficacy to CHX in preventing microbial proliferation in biofilms.
- SMV's antimicrobial properties suggest potential dual therapeutic benefits in periodontal applications, warranting further research.
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