The Promising Efficacy of Probiotics, Casein Phosphopeptide and Casein Macropeptide as Dental Anticariogenic and Remineralizing Agents Part I; An In vitro Study

Objectives: To investigate the effect of different mixtures from nano casein phosphopeptides (CPP), amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus B-445 (L. rhamnosus) and casein glycomacropeptide (GMP) against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) growth and its adhesion.

Methods: CPP was prepared from the tryptic digest of bovine casein and GMP by the action of chymosin on casein solution. Four mixtures namely: Group 1) Nano CPP; Group 2) Nano CPP+ ACP; Group 3)Nano CPP+ ACP + L. rhamnosus; and Group 4)Nano CPP+ ACP+ GMP were prepared and tested for its inhibitory activity against S. mutans growth and its adhesion to saliva-treated glass surfaces in comparison with a commercial product (GC MI paste plus) and chlorhexidine (0.2%) as a positive control. The particle size and zeta potential of nano CPP and its complex with ACP were evaluated. Furthermore, the viability of L. rhamnosusin its mixture was determined during two weeks of storage at pH 6.8 and 8 respectively.

Results: Revealed that Nano CPP had an average particle size (7.75 nm) and zeta potential (-8.43 mV) lower than that of CPP+ACP mixture. Probiotic containing mixture exhibited inhibitory activity slightly less than the positive control at pH 6.8. All tested mixtures reduced the adhesion of S. mutans to saliva-treated glass surfaces and the highest was that containing probiotic and GMP. L. rhamnosus showed acceptable stability in CPP+ACP mixture during storage period.

Conclusions: All these findings suggest the use of probiotic, CPP+ACP mixture as a dental anticariogenic and remineralizing agents.