Antimicrobial Activity of Sixteen Medicinal Plants against Oral Flora and its Efficacy Comparison with 2% Chlorhexidine
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Abstract
The present study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of sixteen medicinal plants against five microbial strains causing oral infections. The phytochemical analysis carried out revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, reducing sugar and steroids in most of the medicinal plants. The antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of sixteen medicinal plants were evaluated using well diffusion method against Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus ,Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Ethanolic extracts of Calendulla officinalis and Mangifera indica were not effective against Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis respectively. However, Azadirachta indica, Centella asiatica, Lannea coromandelica, Rosa centifolia, were showing week and the extract of Acacia nilotica, Citrus limon, Citrus sinesis, Emblica officinalis ,Glycyrrhiza glabra, Juglans regia, Ocimum sanctum, Mentha piperita and Psidium guajava displaying strong antimicrobial activity against most of the test species. The ethanol extracts of Syzygium aromaticum showing strong antimicrobial activity against all test species. The results provide justification for the use of the medicinal plants to treat various oral infections.
Keywords: Medicinal plants, well diffusion method, Antimicrobial activity.