Antimicrobial chemotherapy based on ultraviolet-A (UVA) irradiation of polyphenol solution has been proposed as an adjunctive treatment for dental caries. However, the safety of this treatment has not been thoroughly evaluated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the influence of this treatment on the oral mucosa in hamsters and wounded skin in rats. An oral mucosal irritation test was performed in hamsters. The cheek pouch was everted and treated with UVA irradiation (wavelength: 365 nm) of pure water, 1 mg/mL of caffeic acid, or 1 mg/mL of grape seed extract using a light-emitting diode at an irradiance of 275 mW/cm2. Each treatment was performed for 2 or 5 min and repeated three times. Macroscopic and histological evaluations were performed 24 h after the last treatment. We also examined the effects of the treatment on the healing process of skin wounds in rats. Full-thickness skin wounds created on the back of the rats were treated for 2 min as described above, but only once. The wound area was then assessed daily for 9 days. The results demonstrated that the treatment induced oral mucosal irritation depending on the irradiation time; however, it did not influence the wound healing process. The oral mucosal irritation potential of three treatment sessions performed for 2 and 5 min was minimal and mild to moderate, respectively, according to histological analysis. These findings suggest that the duration of treatment based on UVA irradiation of polyphenols in the oral cavity should be as short as possible, considering the clinical efficacy of the antimicrobial effects and the irritation potential.
Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Caffeic acid; Grape seed extract; Oral mucosal irritation; Proanthocyanidin; Safety evaluation; Ultraviolet-A; Wounded skin.
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