Effect of chlorhexidine mouthrinse on cathepsin C activity in human saliva

Dąbrowska E, Letko M, Roszkowska-Jakimiec W, Letko R, Sadowski J

Abstract

Chlorhexidine is an active agent commonly used against dental plaque in the mouth apart from fluorides applied to prevent caries. It is contained in toothpastes and mouthrinses.
Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of mouthrinses containing chlorhexidine digluconate on the activity of cathepsin C in human saliva.
Material and methods: Material for analyses contained mixed saliva samples collected at rest, directly into test tubes (Z PS type, Medlab) at least 2 hours after meal from 40 subjects (dentistry students; 30 women and 10 men), aged 19-24. Saliva was collected before the preparations were applied after rinsing the mouth with distilled water and following a single use of the preparations according to the producer’s instructions, 8 samples for each preparation.
Results: The decrease of cathepsin C was observed for each preparation, but was the greatest after mouth rinsing with Kin Gingival (65.08%) and Corsodyl (58.00%).
Conclusions: The current study confirms this assumption by finding a decrease in cathepsin C activity after the use of chlorhexidine mouth rinses.

Key words: cathepsin C, chlorhexidine, human saliva, mouthrinses.