RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluatein vitro the antibacterial activity, the antibiofilm effect and the cytotoxic potential of mouthwashes containing Brazilian red propolis with or without fluoride. METHODS: The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) against S. mutans, S. sanguinis, S. salivarius and L. casei were determined for RPE mouthwashes. A cariogenic biofilm with the aforementioned bacteria was formed over cellulose membrane disks (Nâ¯=â¯30, 13â¯mm), which were submitted for 1â¯min to the following mouthwashes: plain mouthwash base; 0.05% NaF; 0.8% RPE; 0.8% RPEâ¯+â¯0.05% NaF and 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX). The bacterial viability and the production of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) were measured. Cytotoxic potential of the mouthwashes was also evaluated. For bacterial viability and EPS production, Mann-Withney and one-way ANOVA tests were performed followed by Tukey, with results considered significant when pâ¯≤â¯0.05. RESULTS: MIC and MBC values of RPE mouthwashes ranged from 7.44 to 29.76â¯mg/mL and from 7.44 to ≥59.52â¯mg/mL, respectively, presenting better action against S. salivarius. RPE mouthwashes showed 44% of viable cells after 1â¯min of contact with fibroblasts. RPE (7.74) had the greatest reduction of viable total microorganisms and did not differ from the RPEâ¯+â¯NaF (7.95) (pâ¯=â¯0.292). CHX (7.54) was the most effective in reducing Streptococcus spp, but did not differ from RPE (pâ¯=â¯0.521) and RPEâ¯+â¯NaF (pâ¯=â¯0.238). There was no difference between the treatments regarding EPS production. CONCLUSION: RPE and RPEâ¯+â¯NaF mouthwash showed similar antibacterial activity, toxicity level and antibiofilm effect compared to CHX.