DARWIN has analyzed the effects of a mouthwash on the oral microbiome in collaboration with Lacer, a leading pharmaceutical laboratory strongly committed to health innovation.

To evaluate the effect of a mouthwash formulated with o-cymen-5-ol and zinc chloride on the oral microbiome of healthy individuals, the mouthwash was administered to a cohort of 51 volunteers for 14 days, while another cohort of 49 volunteers received a placebo. The evolution of the oral microbiome in both groups was analyzed using a metataxonomic approach.

Problem

Many antimicrobial compounds in mouthwashes may have a negative impact on the oral microbiome. O-cymen-5-ol, a compound derived from a phytochemical, has a specific mode of action and is being used as an alternative. However, its effect on the native oral microbiome was unknown.

Solution

Analysis of the oral microbiome showed that the mouthwash selectively targeted potential oral pathogens while maintaining the integrity of the rest of the microbiome. Specifically, the relative abundance of several potentially pathogenic bacterial taxa, namely Fusobacteriota, Prevotella, Actinomyces, Granulicatella, Abiotrophia, Lautropia, Lachnoanaerobaculum, Eubacterium (nodatum group), and Absconditabacteriales (SR1), decreased, while the growth of Rothia, a nitrate-reducing bacterium beneficial for blood pressure, was stimulated.

Year of completion: 2023

Success

The use of o-cymen-5-ol and zinc chloride as antimicrobial agents in mouthwashes is a valuable alternative to classic antimicrobial agents.

Papers

• Mira, Javier & Porcar, Manuel & Vilanova, Cristina & Pascual, Javier & Vivancos, Fernando. (2021). The oral microbiome as a clinical indicator of gingival health: Pilot study. (in Spanish)
• Pascual J, Mira Otal J, Torrent-Silla D, Porcar M, Vilanova C, Vivancos Cuadras F. A mouthwash formulated with o-cymen-5-ol and zinc chloride specifically targets potential pathogens without impairing the native oral microbiome in healthy individuals. J Oral Microbiol. 2023 Mar 3;15(1):2185962. doi: 10.1080/20002297.2023.2185962. PMID: 36891194; PMCID: PMC9987754.