Formulation, development, and evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of a novel polyherbal mouthwash-An in vitro study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to prepare a polyherbal mouthwash and evaluate its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory efficacy against commercially available herbal mouthwash. The objective was to signify whether the novel herbal combination (extracts of Zingiber officinale [ginger], Curcuma longa [turmeric], and Syzygium aromaticum [clove] 5% v/w) could be a better alternative to commercially available herbal mouthwashes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An in vitro study was undertaken in which extracts of Z. officinale (ginger), C. longa (turmeric), and S. aromaticum (clove) 5% v/w were used. Seven different concentrations were prepared and tested against Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, and Staphylococcus aureus in Mueller-Hinton agar medium. Plates were incubated aerobically at 37° C for 48 h, and the zone of inhibition was measured using a vernier caliper. Commercially available herbal mouthwash (Hiora) was used as a control group. The data were analyzed by descriptive analytics. RESULTS: Results showed that the efficacy of novel polyherbal mouthwash had comparatively less significant antimicrobial properties against the microorganisms as compared to the commercially available herbal mouthwash. The minimum inhibitory concentration was also found to be very high, that is, 100 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: There was no significant antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects for the polyherbal mouthwash as compared to commercially available herbal mouthwash (Hiora). Because this combination is readily available, it can be a cost-effective alternative to commercially available herbal mouthwashes.

Cytotoxicity of lycopene-mediated silver nanoparticles in the embryonic development of zebrafish-An animal study.

Nano-silver (AgNP) has biological properties which are significant for consumer products, food technology, and medical applications (e.g., wound care products, implantable medical devices, in diagnosis, drug delivery, and imaging). Thus, the use of nano-silver is becoming more and more widespread in medicine. However, the effect of these AgNPs on zebrafish remains unclear. Whereas, lycopene, a fat-soluble carotenoid acts as a potent antioxidant has proved its major role in treating many oral health problems such as lichen planus, and periodontitis. Usage of these lycopene AgNPs would yield better results in wound healing. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effects of AgNPs on fibroblasts cells of humans. To investigate the toxic effects of the lycopene-mediated AgNPs on the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and to examine these effects on the embryonic development of the fetus of this species. In this study, zebrafish embryos were treated with AgNPs 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 L nanoparticles/ml for 24 to 96 h post fertilization. Our results showed that with the increasing concentration of nanoparticles, there was a very mild toxic effect. Less toxic effects were observed with 1µl. Our results show that exposure to silver nanoparticles is less toxic to embryonic zebrafish at lower concentrations. The results will contribute to the current understanding of the potential biotoxic effects of nanoparticles and will aid in the safety assessment and synthesis of silver oxide nanoparticles.