Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Cotton Balls Incorporated With Musa paradisiaca and Chitosan: An In Vitro Study.

INTRODUCTION: Antibiotics are one of the great advances in medicine. But overusing them has led to resistant bacteria (bacteria that are harder to treat). The current study foresees better non-toxic antimicrobial substances (conventional antibiotics) that insist to consider medicinal plants and animal-derived products, which have better antibiotics without any side effects. The goal of this in-vitro study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of cotton balls incorporated with Musa paradisiaca and chitosan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Musa paradisiaca, chitosan, and gentamicin-reinforced cotton balls were considered in three groups namely Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, which tested against the strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Actinomyces israelii, Streptococcus mutans, andBacteroides fragilis. For the present study, pre-sterilized cotton balls were taken and then soaked with Banana peel extract and soluble chitosan solution at different concentrations of 500 µg/ml, 250 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml, and 50 µg/ml under aseptic conditions and were dried at 50° overnight. The same incorporation method was followed for a 10mg/ml concentration of gentamicin, which was used as a positive control group. RESULTS: In this current study, the banana peel extract, soluble chitosan, and gentamicin exhibited antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms. In the well diffusion method, at the concentration of 500 µg/ml and 250 µg/ml, chitosan and banana peel extract were comparatively better than the positive control group (gentamicin) at a higher concentration of 10 mg/ml. CONCLUSION: From the results of the present study, a lower concentration of the testing group (soluble chitosan and banana peel extract) exhibited a better effect when compared to a higher concentration of gentamicin. Hence, chitosan and banana peel extract impregnated cotton could be preferred for routine clinical scenarios like wounds, extractions sockets, and during any short intraoperative surgical procedures periodontal surgery, where it can provide maximal antimicrobial effects without the side effects of antibiotics.

Comparative Evaluation of Cocoa Bean Husk, Ginger and Chlorhexidine Mouth Washes in the Reduction of Steptococcus Mutans and Lactobacillus Count in Saliva: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction Dental caries is a ubiquitous bacterial infection that has afflicted people for years. Streptococci mutans (S. mutans) are markers of dental caries and the population of S. mutans in the saliva is directly related to the number of surfaces colonized by them. Any intervention that can inhibit their growth and survival will negatively impact the initiation and progress of caries. Various antimicrobial agents have been tested against these microorganisms. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of cocoa bean husk, ginger, and chlorhexidine mouth rinse on S. mutans and Lactobacillus. Materials and methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial involving patients aged 18 to 25 years from July to September 2018. The study population was allocated into three groups. Each group received either cocoa bean, ginger, or chlorhexidine mouth rinses. The study followed a Latin square design. Study participants were instructed to use the assigned mouth rinse once daily for seven days. We collected saliva samples to measure S. mutans and Lactobacillus populations. Results Cocoa bean husk and chlorhexidine rinses produced a significant reduction of S. mutans (p < 0.05). The ginger-based rinse significantly reduced the Lactobacillus population (p < 0.05). Conclusion Our findings indicate these natural mouth rinses offer promising anticariogenic and antiplaque efficacy as cost-effective alternatives to traditional mouth rinses.

Acute and sub acute studies of catechol derivatives from Semecarpus anacardium.

The present study was aimed at evaluating the acute and subacute toxicity of catechol derivatives (I-IV, isolated from Semecarpus anacardium nuts) in Wistar Albino rats. In acute study (14 days), catechol derivatives I-IV 800 mg/kg caused no behavioral adverse effects and mortality. Fifty percent (LD50) of mortality was observed in catechol derivatives I-III (1600 mg/kg b.wt) and catechol derivative IV (1250 mg/kg b.wt). In subacute study, daily oral administration of catechol derivatives I-IV (300 mg/kg b.wt) for 30 days did not result in death or significant changes in the body weight and organ weight, In hematological and some biochemical analysis showed few beneficial effects particularly in catechol derivatives I and IV treated rats that is transient rise in WBC count and HDL cholesterol and decrease in LDL, plasma and tissue lipid profile. These results indicate the impact of catechol derivatives in boosting the immune system and reducing cardiovascular risk factors and thereby they possess cardio protective and immunopotentiating effect. Further, histopathological examination of liver and kidney showed normal architecture that suggests no morphological disturbances. Based on the results obtained, it may be concluded that the catechol derivatives are potentially toxic but therapeutically effective.

Isolation and Characterization of an Acyclic Isoprenoid from Semecarpus anacardium Linn. and its Antibacterial Potential in vitro: - Antimicrobial Activity of Semecarpus anacardium Linn. Seeds.

OBJECTIVES: Semecarpus anacardium Linn. is a plant well-known for its antimicrobial, antidiabetic and anti-arthritic properties in the Ayurvedic and Siddha system of medicine. This has prompted the screening of this plant for antibacterial activity. The main aims of this study were to isolate compounds from the plant's seeds and to evaluate their antibacterial effects on clinical bacterial test strains. METHODS: The n-butanolic concentrate of the seed extract was subjected to thin layer chromatography (TLC) and repeated silica gel column chromatography followed by elution with various solvents. The compound was identified based on observed spectral (IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry) data. The well diffusion method was employed to evaluate the antibacterial activities of the isolated acyclic isoprenoid compound (final concentration: 5 - 15 µg/mL) on four test bacterial strains, namely, Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Bacillus cereus (MTCC 430), Escherichia coli (MTCC 1689) and Acinetobacter baumannii (MTCC 9829). RESULTS: Extensive spectroscopic studies showed the structure of the isolated compound to be an acyclic isoprenoid (C21H32O). Moreover, the isoprenoid showed a remarkable inhibition of bacterial growth at a concentration of 15 µg/mL compared to the two other doses tested (5 and 10 µg/mL) and to tetracycline, a commercially available antibiotic that was used as a reference drug. CONCLUSION: The isolation of an antimicrobial compound from Semecarpus anacardium seeds validates the use of this plant in the treatment of infections. The isolated compound found to be active in this study could be useful for the development of new antimicrobial drugs.