In Vitro Susceptibility Of Oral Pathogens To Traditional Medicines Used To Treat Gingivitis And Peridontal Infections

Gingivitis and periodontial disease are inflammatory disorders that lead to the progressive destruction of gingival tissues and alveolar bone. The mechanisms underlying the destructive processes involve both direct tissue damage, resulting from periodontal pathogens, and indirect damage through host inflammatory reaction. Invasive pathogenic anerobic bacteria are believed to be responsible for this inflammatory response. Fourteen botanical extracts, used in traditional medicine for oral health, were tested against three of the most important anerobic peridontal pathogens including Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG), Fusobacterium nucleatum (FN) and Streptococcus mutans (SM). Of the 14 extract tested six were active and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were obtained. 95% EtOH extracts of Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae) peel, Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) bark or Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa (Rutaceae) fruit inhibited the growth of PG with an MIC of 64 µg/mL, 128 µg/mL, and 128 µg/mL, respectively; a 95% extract of Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nak. (Rosaceae) quince fruit inhibited the growth of FN with an MIC of 128 µg/mL. Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansfield (Zingiberaceae) rhizome extract inhibited the growth of FN and PG with an MIC of 128 µg/mL for both. Litsea elliptica Blume (Lauraceae) leaf extract inhibited the growth of inhibited the growth of FN with an MIC of 64 µg/mL and PG with an MIC of 32 µg/mL. None of the extracts inhibited the growth of S. mutans. The results indicate that several botanical extracts used in traditional medicine have activity against anerobic oral pathogens and maybe useful for the treatment of gingivitis or peridontal disease.

Acknowledgements: Partial support for this work was made possible by a grant from the Wm. Wrigley Company.