Combating dental caries with medicinal plants By Ralph Flores for Natural Cures
In a study, researchers from the Bharat Institute of Technology in India explored how different medicinal plants can prevent dental caries. Their findings were published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.
- The team looked at the anti-carries effect of different medicinal plants. In particular, the team explored this effect at the molecular level and against Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferases (gtf).
- The following plants were used for the study: Terminalia chebula, Psidium guajava, Azadirachta indica and Pongamia pinnata. In addition, two essential oils – Syzygium aromaticum and Mentha piperita – were selected as test samples.
- From the plants, the team prepared hydroalcoholic extracts. The extracts and the essential oils were examined for their ability to inhibit gtf isolated from S. mutans.
- In addition, they also prepared a mouthwash using the plants, which they also tested against gtf against commercial chlorhexidine mouthwash. To determine the molecular mechanism of action, they carried out an enzyme kinetic study.
- The results revealed that A. indica had the highest maximum inhibitory effect (91.647 percent) on gtf; T. chebula had an IC50 of 1.091 mg/mL.
- T. chebula, P. guajava and P. pinnata exhibited uncompetitive inhibition, while A. indica showed non-competitive inhibition, based on the results of the enzyme kinetic study.
- The polyherbal mouthwash showed significant inhibitory potential on gtf (95.936%) compared to commercial chlorhexidine mouthwash.
In sum, all medicinal plants used in the study exhibited gtf action, and the polyherbal mouth wash exhibited noncompetitive inhibitory activity against gtf.
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