Antimicrobial properties of mucin-based saliva substitute containing xylitol

Xerostomia is a disease characterized by a chronic feeling of dry mouth associated with a reduced amount and quality of saliva. When caused by salivary glands irreversible damage as a result of anti-cancer therapies, it requires the administration of artificial saliva that will restore the physiological functions of natural saliva. In addition to the moisturizing and lubricating effects, it is also important to restore the antimicrobial properties of healthy saliva. Patients suffering from xerostomia occurring as a result of cancer treatment, are often immunocompromised and susceptible to infections. Here, the solution developed based on mucin and xanthan gum with the addition of xylitol, a five-carbon sugar alcohol (C
₅
H
₁₂
O
₅
) with a potential antimicrobial effect, was proposed as a saliva substitute. The ability of this preparation containing xylitol to inhibit proliferation, adhesion, and biofilm formation of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata fungal strains, and S. mutans bacteria was examined using spectrophotometric techniques. Xylitol at a concentration of 2%mas. and higher, exhibit the ability to prevent microbial, adhesion, and proliferation which translates into a reduced amount of formed biofilm and its survival in single-strain systems.