• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2021

Background: Dental caries and periodontal disease are bacterial infectious disease, mainly caused by plaque, a bacterial colony deposited on the tooth surface and gum tissue. Dental plaque disclosants easily stain the dental plaque, making them effective for scaling and tooth brushing education. As the erythrosine typically contained in dental plaque disclosants is highly cytotoxic, a low toxicity additive is needed. In this study, we aimed to examine the natural pigments with negligible cytotoxicity but can effectively stain the dental plaques for use in dental plaque disclosants. Methods: The pigmentation of eight types of natural pigments was tested on bovine tongue and teeth, as well as on head and neck tissue sections of experimental ICR mice. The cytotoxicity of gingival epithelial cells was measured via MTT assay. Pigmentation was performed on the bovine tongue and tooth surface. Pigmentation in the oral environment was observed in four mandibular incisors. A 2 Tone was used as a control. Results: Of the eight types of natural pigments, purple and blue pigments were effective in coloring dental plaques on the enamel surface as well as in the head and neck tissue sections. Additionally, purple and blue pigments were visible on the surface of the bovine tongue. Red, pink, orange, green, purple, and yellow pigments showed strong cytotoxicity, whereas brown and blue pigments had relatively low cytotoxicity. Blue pigment was effective in staining the dental plaque of four mandibular incisors. Conclusion: We suggest that the blue pigment derived from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (Rubiaceae), which is effective for coloring dental plaques and has low cytotoxicity, is useful as a naturally derived dental disclosant.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.98-101
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• 1975

The components of Gardenia pigment in rind, flesh, fresh fruit and stored fruit, its heat resistance and stability in pH, its dilution and colour-degree were studied. The results are summarized as follows; 1. The components of CROCIN in fresh fruit and stored fruit were 0.0157% and 0.0136% respectively. One year storage of stored fruit resulted in the decrease of 15% of CROCIN. 2. The components of Gardenia pigment in flesh were contained nearly twice as much as in rind. 3. There were traces of ${\beta}-carotene$ and some unknown carotenoid pigments. 4. Gardenia pigment was stable at $100^{\circ}C$ for 60 minutes, but, at $150^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes, nearly half of them was destructed. 5. Gardenia pigment turned to colurless but was stable in neutral or alkali condition after 10 days. 6. Supercially, dark Gardenia pigment looked yellowish red and thin Gardenia pigment looked yellow: however, each ${\lambda}_{max}$. was all the same.