1. Salivary β-glucosidase as a direct factor influencing the occurrence of halitosis
- Author
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Lucimari Teixeira Essenfelder, Anderson Albino Gomes, Jefferson Luis Meirelles Coimbra, Marcelo Alves Moreira, Sandra Maria Ferraz, David José Miquelluti, Gustavo Felippe da Silva, and Maria de Lourdes Borba Magalhães
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Biofilm ,Halitosis ,Oral health ,Saliva ,β-Glucosidase ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 ,Biochemistry ,QD415-436 - Abstract
β-Glucosidases are enzymes present in all living organisms, playing a pivotal role in diverse biological processes. These enzymes cleave β-glycosidic bonds between carbohydrates, or between a carbohydrate and a non-carbohydrate moiety, which may result in the liberation of volatile aglycones. Released compounds execute diverse physiological roles, while the industry takes advantage of exogenously added β-glucosidases for aroma enrichment during food and beverage production. β-Glucosidase enzymatic activity has been reported in human saliva and given the fact that these enzymes are involved in aroma release, we investigated here the correlation between β-glucosidase activity in human saliva and the occurrence of halitosis. Measurement of salivary enzyme activity of 48 volunteers was performed using p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside as substrate. Each volunteer was clinically evaluated by a dental surgeon and clinical and laboratorial data were statistically analyzed. Gas-chromatography of saliva headspace allowed the analysis of the direct role of exogenous β-glucosidase on aromatic /volatile profile of saliva samples. The data demonstrated a positive correlation between halitosis and enzymatic activity, suggesting that the enzyme exerts a direct role in the occurrence of bad breath. Gas-chromatography analysis demonstrated that exogenously added enzyme led to the alteration of volatile organic content, confirming a direct contribution of β-glucosidase activity on saliva volatile compounds release. Although halitosis is a multifactorial condition, the complete understanding of all governing factors may allow the development of more effective treatment strategies. Such studies may pave the way to the use of β-glucosidase inhibitors for halitosis clinical management.
- Published
- 2021
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