Journal Article

Psidium guajava L. hydroethanolic extract as endodontic irrigant: phytochemical analysis, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial action and biocompatibility

Carvalho, Cláudio Antonio Talge, da Silva, Livia Ramos Dorta, Marcucci, Maria Cristina, de Oliveira, Luciane Dias, Meccatti-Domiciano, Vanessa Marques, de Carvalho, Lara Steffany, Abu Hasna, Amjad

2025

Overview

The search for novel antimicrobial agents in Endodontics is constant to overcoming persistent infections. L. is a medicinal plant little explored in Endodontics. The aim of this study was to produce hydroethanolic extract of L. and to evaluate its phytochemical composition, antimicrobial and antibiofilm action against standard and clinical strains of and , and cytotoxicity and genotoxicity on human keratinocyte cultures (HaCaT cells). The findings provide new insights into the potential of as an alternative endodontic antimicrobial agent, contributing to the development of more effective and biocompatible therapeutic strategies. hydroethanolic extract was produced using young leaves of guajava and extracted using absolute ethanol and ultrapure water in a ratio (30 g:100 mL). The solid soluble, total flavonoid and total phenols content were determined. The chemical composition was determined high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, then the free radical suppressive activity was assessed by determining the IC value, indicating the concentration required to eliminate 50% of free radicals. Later, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) of the extract was evaluated against the strains using clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines (M27-S4 and M7-A9). Then, the antibiofilm activity was evaluated MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the extract was evaluated Alamar Blue assay, and the genotoxicity micronucleus assay on human keratinocyte cultures (HaCaT cells). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's test or Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's test. The soluble solids content in the extract was 3.35%. Using the quercetin standard curve, the total flavonoid concentration was 0.130 ± 0.110 mg/mL. In addition, using standard curve for phenolic acids, the total phenolic concentration was 1.770 ± 1.540 mg/mL. HPLC analysis revealed peaks of rutin, quercetin and kaempferol as major flavonoids in the L. extract. The extract demonstrated notable antioxidant activity, with an IC value of 10.39 µg/mL. The MMC values ranged 1.04-8.37 mg/mL. The extract at 8.37 mg/mL was effective in reducing the biofilms of standard and clinical strains of and after 10 min. Cytotoxicity analysis revealed that all tested concentrations exhibited relatively low toxicity toward HaCaT cells. Genotoxicity assessment the micronucleus assay indicated minimal DNA damage at all tested concentrations. Overall, L. hydroethanolic extract at 8.37 mg/mL is the most effective concentration in reducing the biofilm of the standard and clinical strains of and , while maintaining biocompatibility with HaCaT cultures.

• Publisher: PeerJ. Ltd,PeerJ, Inc,PeerJ Inc
• Subject: Alcohol / Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology / Antimicrobial / Antimicrobial agents / Antioxidants / Antioxidants - pharmacology / Biochemistry / Biocompatibility / Biofilms / Biofilms - drug effects / Candida albicans / Candida albicans - drug effects / Chemical composition / Chemical properties / Cytotoxicity / Dentistry / DNA damage / Endodontics / Enterococcus faecalis / Enterococcus faecalis - drug effects / Ethanol / Flavonoids / Free radicals / Genotoxicity / Guava / HaCaT Cells / Health aspects / Herbal medicine / High-performance liquid chromatography / Humans / Infections / Kaempferol / Keratinocytes - drug effects / Medicinal plants / Microbial mats / Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Microbicides / Microbiology / Microorganisms / Minimum inhibitory concentration / Phenolic acids / Phytochemicals / Phytochemicals - analysis / Phytochemicals - pharmacology / Phytochemistry / Plant Extracts - chemistry / Plant Extracts - pharmacology / Plant Leaves - chemistry / Psidium - chemistry / Psidium guajava / Psidium guajava L / Quercetin / Root Canal Irrigants - chemistry / Root Canal Irrigants - pharmacology / Rutin / Solvents