MILIA, E., USAI, C., SZOTÁKOVÁ, B., ELSTNEROVÁ, M., KRÁLOVÁ, V., D’HALLEWIN, G., SPISSU, Y., BARBERIS, A., MARCHETTI, M., BORTONE, A., CAMPANELLA, V., MASTANDREA, G., LANGHANSOVÁ, Lenka, EICK, S. The pharmaceutical ability of Pistacia lentiscus L. Leaves essential oil against periodontal bacteria and Candida sp. and its anti-inflammatory potential. Antibiotics (Basel). 2020, 9(6), 281. ISSN 2079-6382. E-ISSN 2079-6382

Background: Given the increasing request for natural pharmacological molecules, this study assessed the antimicrobial capacity of Pistacialentiscus L. essential oil (PLL-EO) obtained from the leaves of wild plants growing in North Sardinia (Italy) toward a wide range of periodontal bacteria and Candida, including laboratory and clinical isolates sp., together with its antiinflammatory activity and safety. Methods: PLL-EO was screened by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The anti-inflammatory activity was measured by cyclooxygenase (COX-1/2) and lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition, while the antioxidant capacity was determined electro-chemically and by the MTT assay. The WST-1 assay was used to ascertain cytotoxicity toward four lines of oral cells. Results: According to the concentrations of terpens, PLL-EO is a pharmacologically-active phytocomplex. MICs against periodontal bacteria ranged between 3.13 and 12.5 µg/ml, while against Candida sp. they were between 6.25 and 12.5 µg/mL. Oxidation by COX-1/2 and LOX was inhibited by 80% and 20% µg/mL of the oil, respectively. Antioxidant activity seemed negligible, and no cytotoxicity arose. CONCLUSIONS: PLL-EO exhibits a broad-spectrum activity against periodontal bacteria and Candida, with an interesting dual inhibitory capacity toward COX-2 and LOX inflammatory enzymes, and without side effects against oral cells.