Title:  Gums containing antimicrobial agents

United States Patent:  6,248,309

Assignee:  Optiva Corporation (Snoqualmie, WA)

Filed:  August 19, 1999

Gum compositions containing effective amounts of antimicrobial agents that are released to the oral cavity during chewing. In specific embodiments, the antimicrobial agents are released from the gum at different rates and times.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a gum composition which includes at least two antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of berberine, cedarwood oil, chloramphenicol, Glycyrrhiza glabra extract, juicy fruit basil oil, juniper berries oil, and lemon basil oil. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a gum composition that includes an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of cedarwood oil, chloramphenicol, Glycyrrhiza glabra ethanol extract, juicy fruit basil oil and lemon basil oil. Gums formed in accordance with the present invention are used to deliver antimicrobial agents to the oral cavity and release the agents to the oral cavity at concentrations that are above the MIC for the agents. Accordingly, the chewing of a gum formed in accordance with the present invention provides an alternative to brushing or mouthwashes as a means for combating the formation of dental plaque. Antimicrobial agents useful in accordance with the present invention include berberine, cedarwood oil, chloramphenicol, Glycyrrhiza glabra extract, juicy fruit basil oil, juniper berries oil, and lemon basil oil. In addition, geraniol and cocamidopropyl dimethylglycine can be used as antimicrobial agents in accordance with the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, applicants have observed that certain antimicrobial agents are released from a gum base at a different rate than other antimicrobial agents. Based on this observation, the present invention provides a gum composition that comprises a first antimicrobial agent that is released from a gum base to the oral cavity to provide a concentration in the oral cavity above the MIC of the first antimicrobial agent within about one to five minutes of initiation of gum chewing. This preferred gum composition also includes a second antimicrobial agent that is released from the gum base to the oral cavity to provide a concentration in the oral cavity above the MIC of the second antimicrobial agent after about five minutes from initiation of gum chewing. Gum compositions formed in accordance with the present invention which include these two types of antimicrobial agents provide a gum that is able to deliver antimicrobial agents to the oral cavity and maintain a concentration of at least one of the antimicrobial agents above the MIC for an extended period of time, preferably on the order of about 25 minutes or longer.

In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a method of inhibiting the growth of oral pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity by releasing certain antimicrobial agents from a gum into the oral cavity. The present invention also provides methods of manufacturing a gum which involves the incorporation of certain antimicrobial agents into a gum base.

Claim 1 of 19 Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A gum composition comprising:

antimicrobial agent A and antimicrobial agent B in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of oral pathogenic bacteria selected from the group consisting of Actinomyces viscosus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, and Streptococcus sanguis, antimicrobial agent A and antimicrobial agent B being selected from the group consisting of berberine, cedarwood oil, chloramphenicol, Glycyrrhiza glabra extract, juicy fruit basil oil, juniper berries oil, and lemon basil oil, wherein when antimicrobial agent A and antimicrobial agent B are combined at least one of antimicrobial agent A and antimicrobial agent B exhibit a minimum inhibitory concentration relative to at least one of the bacteria that is synergistically less than the minimum inhibitory concentration of the at least one antimicrobial agent alone.

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