Introduction:

The enzyme lactoperoxidase thiocyanate is produced by epithelial cells of the salivary glands and performs defensive functions against pathogenic microorganisms of the oral cavity, therefore, identifying its presence by qualitative methods could be useful when investigating the causes of recurrent oral infections such as periodontitis, gingivitis and dental caries, in which a relationship with low levels of this enzyme has been reported in different studies.

Objective:

To demonstrate the usefulness of the pyrogallol salicylate method in the identification of the salivary enzyme lactoperoxidase thiocyanate.

Methods:

An observational and cross-sectional pilot study was carried out at the Center of Immunology and Biological Products of Camagüey, from June to October 2020, using the pyrogallol salicylate method to identify the lactoperoxidase thiocyanate enzyme in human saliva. Fourteen saliva samples were analyzed by observation and spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 405 nm. Descriptive statistical methods were applied to process data.

Results:

The enzyme lactoperoxidase thiocyanate was found in all the salivary samples studied. The absorbance of the samples ranged between 0,406 and 0,939.

Conclusions:

The pyrogallol salicylate method is useful in identifying the salivary lactoperoxidase enzyme, which may be favorable in the study of oral infections.

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