Abstract
Dental caries is the most prevalent childhood disease, affecting nearly 30%
of children worldwide. Caries occur when oral bacteria form biofilms on tooth surfaces and
produce acidic byproducts from residual metabolites. While regular brushing and mouth washes
are effective measures for some, additional preventative methods are needed to decrease caries
in individuals colonized by aggressive biofilm-forming species. Previous research has
demonstrated that zingerone interrupts quorum-sensing in other bacterial species, preventing
communication and coordination of gene expression. This project investigated if zingerone,
a component of ginger, reduces biofilm formation in the oral bacteria Streptococcus
mutans and Lactobacillus gasseri. Each bacterial species was grown and placed in a Drip Flow
Biofilm Reactor and treated with a diluted media and zingerone solution. Biofilm formation was
analyzed using a confocal microscope and Live/Dead stain. Although
biofilm formation decreased with zingerone treatment, there was not a significant
difference between experimental and control groups. However, this research models the dynamic
environment of medical treatments and can be used as a stepstone between traditional static
biofilm assays and clinical trials. Additional trials with increased sample size may reveal
zingerone’s ability to significantly decrease biofilm growth in Streptococcus mutans and
Lactobacillus gasseri.