Inhibitory activity of Myrtus communis oil on some clinically isolated oral pathogens

To determine the antimicrobial activities of Myrtus communis oil [MCO] on some oral pathogens. Thirty strains of Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and 20 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes and Candida albicans isolated from patients with dental caries, periodontal diseases, pharyngitis and oral lesions associated with artificial dentures were used for the antimicrobial activity of MCO. The oil was prepared by hydrodistillation procedures using a Clevenger apparatus. Agar disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods were performed on various concentrations of MCO [3.9-1,000 micro g/ml] using all the pathogens isolated. All isolates were sensitive to MCO at 125-1,000 micro g/ml by agar disk diffusion producing inhibition zones of 8.1-41.25 mm in diameter. All of the S. pyogenes, S. mutans and C. albicans strains were sensitive to 62.5 micro g/ml while 70% [21/30] of A. actinomycetemcomitans and 66.6% [20/30] of P. gingivalis were resistant to these concentrations. All S. pyogenes and S. mutans strains were sensitive to 31.25 micro g/ml. All S. pyogenes strains were sensitive to 15.6 and 7.8 micro g/ml of MCO. None of the clinical isolates in this study were sensitive to 3.9 micro g/ml or to a lower concentration of oil. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of MCO for S. pyogenes, S. mutans, C. albicans, A.actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis were 29.68 +/- 4.8, 31.25 +/- 0, 46.9 +/- 16, 62.5 +/- 0 and 62.5 +/- 0 micro g/ml, respectively. Data obtained in this study revealed a strong antimicrobial activity of MCO on the tested oral pathogens, and MCO could therefore be useful in the prevention of the related oral infections

Inhibitory activity of green tea [camellia sinensis] extract on some clinically isolated cariogenic and periodontopathic bacteria

To determine the in vitro inhibitory activity of green tea extract on some clinically isolated cariogenic and periodontopathic bacteria. Twenty strains of each of Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotellaintermedia were isolated from carious teeth and periodontal pockets of patients with dental caries and periodontal diseases. Green tea extract was prepared by aqueous extraction method and diluted from 50 to 1.56 mg/ml. Standard techniques of agar disk diffusion and broth microdilution assays were applied for qualitative and quantitative determinations of antibacterial activity of green tea extract on each isolates. All clinical isolates of S. mutans [100%] were sensitive to green tea extract at concentrations 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/ml producing inhibition zones ranging from 10 to 38 mm. All periodontopathic isolates [A. actinomycetemcomitans, n = 20, P. intermedia, n = 20, and P. gingivalis, n = 20] [100%] tested were sensitive to 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/ml of this extract. The minimal inhibitory concentration of green tea extract for S. mutans was 3.28 +/- 0.7 mg/ml and for A. actinomycetemcomitans 6.25, for P. gingivalis and P. intermedia 12.5 mg/ml. Our findings showed that green tea extract exhibited strong antibacterial activity on S. mutans,A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and P. intermedia and therefore may be used in mouthwashes or dentifrices for prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases

[Inhibitory effect of aqueous garlic [Allium sativum] extract on multi-drug-resistant Streptococcus mutans species: an in vitro study]

Garlic [Allium sativum] extract has an inhibitory effect on various pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro inhibitory effect of garlic extract on multi-drug-resistant [MDR] strains of Streptococcus mutans isolated from human carious teeth. Filtered sterilized aqueous extract of garlic was used in the present study. In this in vitro case-control study data was analyzed with Student's t-test [? = 0.05]. From 105 extracted human carious teeth 92 strains of S mutans were isolated. Disk sensitivity tests and broth dilution methods were used to determine antibiotic sensitivity profile and inhibitory activity of garlic extract on S mutans. Among 92 isolates of S mutans, 28 [30.4%] were MDR since they were resistant to four or more antibiotics. The highest and least resistance rates were observed for tetracycline [30.4%] and teichoplanin and vancomycin [0%], respectively; on the other hand, 22.8% and 23.9% of the isolates were resistant to penicillin and amoxicillin, respectively. Chlorhexidine minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] for MDR and non-MDR S mutans varied from 2 to 16 microg/mL and from 0.25 to 1 microg/mL, respectively [p value < 0.05]. All the isolates, MDR and non-MDR, were sensitive to garlic extract with the MIC ranging from 4 to 32 mg/mL. Considering the data obtained from the present study, mouthwashes or toothpastes containing optimum concentrations of garlic extract can be used for the prevention of dental caries