Marine-derived 9-octadecenoic acid and a-tocopherol acetate as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents in oral health: Asam 9-oktadekenoat yang berasal dari laut dan asetat a-tokoferol sebagai agen antioksidan dan antiinflamasi dalam kesehatan mulut

Asmawati Amin (Oral Biology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia)
Alqarama Mahardhika Thalib (Department of Dental Material Science and Technology, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia)
Bahruddin Thalib (Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia)
Azzahrah Dhaifatul Azizah (Department of Dental Material Science and Technology, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia)
Zakirah Taqiyyani Toripuji (Department of Dental Material Science and Technology, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia)

MDJ (Makassar Dental Journal)
Vol. 15 No. 2 (2026): Volume 15 Issue 2 August 2026

Natural bioactive compounds such as a-tocopherol and 9-octadecenoic acid (OOA), both found in Stichopus hermanii, have demonstrated potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This article reviews systematically and compare the biological activities of a-tocopherol and OOA in managing oxidative and inflammatory processes relevant to the oral cavity. A descriptive-comparative literature review was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, MDPI, and Google Scholar (2015-2025). Inclusion criteria covered in vitro, in vivo, clinical, and in silico studies evaluating the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of a-tocopherol or OOA. a-tocopherol primarily acted by enhancing antioxidant defenses and suppressing inflammatory signaling, while OOA modulated proinflammatory pathways and epigenetic mechanisms. It is concluded that a-tocopherol and OOA exhibit complementary mechanisms in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Their combined use and marine-derived origin from S.hermanii offer promising directions for future research and therapeutic application in oral health.