Oxidative Modification o f Salivary Biomolecules with Ozone.

C. SIL WOOD, C. SMITH, M. TURNER, M. GROOTVEL D and E. LYNCH. (Health and Health Care Research Centre, School of Dentistry, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland)

Objectives: Previous studies have demonstrated that ozone (O3) exerts a powerful bactericidal actio n towards S. mutans, tog ether with further micro-organisms associated with primary root carious lesions. Therefore, the application of O3 in dental practices m ay serve as a viable and convenient means of treating dental caries. In this study we have e mployed high field proton (1H) NMR spectroscopy to evaluate the oxidising actions of O3 towards salivary biomolecules. Methods: Unstimulated hum an saliva specimens were collected from 16 patients and each of them was divided into two equivalent volumes (0.60 ml). The first of these was treated with O3 [1] for a period of 20s, and the second group served as controls. Samples were then subjected to 1H NMR analysis at an operating frequency of 600.13 MHz. Results: In addition to the complete oxidative consumption of salivary pyruvate and partial oxidation of m ethionine, results acquired revealed (1) m arked elevatio ns in the concentration of for mate (a product derived from the oxidation of carbohydrates), (2) substantial r eductions in lactate level via its oxidation to pyru vate, which in turn is oxidised to acetate and CO2, (3) the oxidation of 3-D-hydroxybutyrate to acetoacetate, which liberates acetone on decomposition, (4) the generation of allantoin from salivary urate, (5) the production of lowmolecular-mass saccharide fragm ents from hyaluronate, and (6) oxidation o f m alodorous trimethylamine to its corresponding, non-m alodorous N-oxide.Conclusions: 1H NMR analysis provides a wealth of infor mation regarding the nature and extent of salivary biomolecule oxidation by O3 which are of much relevance to its potential therapeutic actions in the oral environment. [1] HealOzone Unit, CurOzone, U.S.A.