Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Microbiology, SRM Arts and Science College, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
  • 2 Department of Cariology, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
  • 3 Biomedical Research Unit and Laboratory Animal Centre (BRULAC), Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Dental College, Chennai, 600 077, Tamil Nadu, India
  • 4 Saveetha College of Pharmacy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, Chennai, 602 105, Tamil Nadu, India
  • 5 Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
  • 6 School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, Republic of Korea
  • 7 Department of Cariology, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, Chennai, India. ajayguru.sdc@saveetha.com
  • 8 Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agro‑Based Industry, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus, Jeli, 17600, Malaysia. khairiyah@umk.edu.my
Mol Biol Rep, 2024 Feb 24;51(1):352.
PMID: 38400866 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09289-9

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Oral diseases are often attributed to dental pathogens such as S. aureus, S. mutans, E. faecalis, and C. albicans. In this research work, a novel approach was employed to combat these pathogens by preparing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) capped with cinnamic acid (CA) plant compounds.

METHODS: The synthesized ZnO-CA NPs were characterized using SEM, FTIR, and XRD to validate their composition and structural features. The antioxidant activity of ZnO-CA NPs was confirmed using DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays. The antimicrobial effects of ZnO-CA NPs were validated using a zone of inhibition assay against dental pathogens. Autodock tool was used to identify the interaction of cinnamic acid with dental pathogen receptors.

RESULTS: ZnO-CA NPs exhibited potent antioxidant activity in both DPPH and ABTS assays, suggesting their potential as powerful antioxidants. The minimal inhibitory concentration of ZnO-CA NPs against dental pathogens was found 25 µg/mL, indicating their effective antimicrobial properties. Further, ZnO-CA NPs showed better binding affinity and amino acid interaction with dental pathogen receptors. Also, the ZnO-CA NPs exhibited dose-dependent (5 µg/mL, 15 µg/mL, 25 µg/mL, and 50 µg/mL) anticancer activity against Human Oral Epidermal Carcinoma KB cells. The mechanism of action of apoptotic activity of ZnO-CA NPs on the KB cells was identified through the upregulation of BCL-2, BAX, and P53 genes.

CONCLUSIONS: This research establishes the potential utility of ZnO-CA NPs as a promising candidate for dental applications. The potent antioxidant, anticancer, and effective antimicrobial properties of ZnO-CA NPs make them a valuable option for combating dental pathogens.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.