Lee Swanson Research Update

Grape Seed Extract Could Help Boost Oral Health

January 2009

Extracts from grape seeds may exert an antimicrobial effect and reduce levels of bad-breath and periodontitis-causing bacteria, according to a study conducted in France. "Recognition of the biological properties of polyphenolic compounds has led to the use of grape seed extract as a dietary supplement," wrote lead author Aurelie Furiga from the University Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2. "Our study demonstrated that such health benefits could be helpful in the fight against periodontal diseases."

Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that destroys the soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth. It is reportedly the second most common disease worldwide, and affects 30% to 50% of the U.S. population.

The Bordeaux-based researchers tested grape seed extract (97% polyphenols) on two anaerobic bacteria associated with the disease: Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum.

The extracts showed good antibacterial activity, as evidenced by the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the test compound against the two strains. For P. gingivalis a MIC of 4,000 micrograms per milliliter (ug/ml) was recorded, while for F. nucleatum a value of 2,000 ug/ml was reported. Furiga and her co-workers report a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) two and four times higher for P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum, respectively.

The researchers also tested the efficacy of the extracts in the presence of biofilm. "Dental plaque, implicated in oral diseases, is a very complex biofilm, which gives to bacteria a protection against antimicrobial agents," explained Furiga. "So another important step of our investigation was to evaluate the activity of our polyphenolic extract on an experimental multi-species biofilm validated by various studies."

The researchers saw optimal activity against the biofilm with a concentration of 2,000 ug/ml of grape seed extract.

Also, antioxidant activity higher than vitamins C and E was recorded for the extracts. The benefits were explained by Furiga and her co-workers: "Periodontitis is initiated by the subgingival biofilm but the progression of destructive disease appears to be dependent upon an abnormal host response. Excess of reactive oxygen species release is implicated in the inflammatory process."

"Proanthocyanidins contained in grape seed extracts have potent antioxidant properties and should be considered a potential agent in the prevention of periodontal diseases," the researchers said. "So it is not surprising that our extract, rich in polyphenolic compounds, possessed high antioxidant activity."

Food Chemistry 113(4):1037-1040, 2008

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