Bacteriocin or Bacteriocin like inhibitory substances (BLIS) is a protein antibiotic that has a relatively narrow spectrum of killing activity. It could potentially serve as a natural alternative to antibiotics in reducing the development of multi-drug resistant bacteria. Antimicrobial activity of the strains of Lactobacillus sp. isolated from healthy subjects (test strains) against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and other periodontal pathogens (indicator strains) isolated from subgingival plaques of aggressive periodontitis patients were determined by using deferred antagonism test and agar-well diffusion method. Strains of Lactobacillus sp., Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and black pigmented bacteria were selectively isolated from TJA, TSBV and TSBA agars, respectively. Mean diameter zone of inhibition of at least 10 mm was considered as positive results for both methods. Out of 25 strains of Lactobacillus sp. screened, only eight test strains of Lactobacillus sp. showed the specific antimicrobial activity against certain strains of indicator periodontal pathogens during deferred antagonism test. However, out of eight potential strains, only three strains, which were Lactobacillus sp. strain S, Lactobacillus sp. strain V and Lactobacillus sp. strain W consistently showed positive inhibitory activity against black pigmented bacteria by deferred antagonism test and agar-well diffusion method. Therefore, these three strains should be considered as potential BLIS producer strains for further study.
Periodontitis adalah penyakit kronik yang melibatkan kehilangan tulang dan inflamasi pada tisu periodontium. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) dan Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) merupakan penanda pro-inflamasi yang penting yang terlibat dalam periodontitis. Sebanyak 20 ekor tikus Sprague-Dawley dibahagikan kepada empat kumpulan iaitu: Kumpulan kawalan dengan salin normal (CS); kumpulan kawalan dengan madu Gelam 3 g/mL (CH); kumpulan ujian periodontitis dengan salin normal (TS); dan kumpulan ujian periodontitis dengan madu Gelam 3 g/mL (TH). Benang bersaiz 4/0 diikat pada molar pertama gigi tikus sebelah kiri bagi tujuan rangsangan penyakit periodontitis. Madu Gelam diberi secara paksa oral selama 15 hari. Selepas 15 hari, sampel plasma dan tisu dianalisis menggunakan kaedah Elisa dan pewarnaan histologi. Kehilangan tulang alveolar pada kumpulan TS adalah paling tinggi berbanding dengan kumpulan kawalan, CS dan CH namun, tiada perbezaan yang signifikan berbanding dengan kumpulan TH. Berdasarkan ujian imunohistokimia, ekspresi IL-6 dan TNF-α pada tisu periodontium adalah tinggi secara signifikan pada kumpulan TS berbanding dengan kumpulan lain. Namun, tiada perubahan aras IL-6 dan TNF-α yang signifikan pada plasma ke semua tikus kajian.
This review is to examine the current literatures on the relationship between periodontitis and hypertension as well as to explore the possible biological pathways underlying the linkage between these health conditions. Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are among the critical components in the development of hypertension. Inflammation has received much attention recently and may contribute to a pivotal role in hypertension. Periodontitis, a chronic low-grade inflammation of gingival tissue, has been linked to endothelial dysfunction, with blood pressure elevation and increased mortality risk in hypertensive patients. Inflammatory biomarkers are increased in hypertensive patients with periodontitis. Over the years, various researches have been performed to evaluate the involvement of periodontitis in the initiation and progression of hypertension. Many cross-sectional studies documented an association between hypertension and periodontitis. However, more well-designed prospective population trials need to be carried out to ascertain the role of periodontitis in hypertension.