Clinical Trial of a Plant-Derived Antibody on Recolonization of Mutans Streptococci

• Published in: Caries research Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 241 - 250
• Main Authors: Weintraub, J.A., Hilton, J.F., White, J.M., Hoover, C.I., Wycoff, K.L., Yu, L., Larrick, J.W., Featherstone, J.D.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.05.2005
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - therapeutic use; Chlorhexidine - therapeutic use; Dental Plaque - drug therapy; Dental Plaque - metabolism; Dental Plaque - microbiology; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory - metabolism; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; Nicotiana - immunology; Original Paper; Plant Extracts - metabolism; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plantibodies - metabolism; Plantibodies - therapeutic use; Saliva - microbiology; Statistics, Nonparametric; Streptococcus mutans - drug effects; Dental caries; Mutans streptococci; Cariology; Preventive dentistry; Antimicrobial treatment; Randomized clinical trial; Antibody
• ISSN: 0008-6568; 1421-976X
• DOI: 10.1159/000084805

Objective: This double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial tested the safety and efficacy of a topical secretory IgA antibody manufactured in tobacco plants (plantibody) in preventing recolonization of mutans streptococci (MS) in human plaque as measured by whole stimulated saliva samples. Methods: Following a 9-day antimicrobial treatment with chlorhexidine (CHX), 56 eligible adults (enrollment salivary MS ≧ 10 4 CFU/ml; no current caries) were randomized equally to a group receiving 0, 2, 4, or 6 topical applications of plantibody followed by 6, 4, 2, or 0 applications of placebo, respectively, over a 3-week period. Results: Among the 54 subjects who completed the trial, the CHX regimen eliminated salivary MS in 69%. After 6 months, there were no significant differences in MS levels by number of applications, relative to placebo (p > 0.43). No adverse effects were observed. Conclusion: Plantibody is safe but not effective at the frequency, concentration, and number of applications used in this study.