Abies webbiana Ethanolic Extract Based Mouthwash and Its Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Effect

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic effect of Abies webbiana ethanolic extract based preparation of mouthwash and to compare these effects between different concentrations.
 Background: Abies webbiana leaves have been used in traditional siddha and ayurveda systems of medicine for common ailments such as cough, loss of appetite, indigestion, mental disorders, rheumatism, bronchitis, pulmonary infection, asthma, antiseptic and decongestant. Abies webbiana commonly known as talispatra belongs to family Pinaceae. The plant is distributed throughout India, mostly in the Himalayan region from Kashmir to Assam states.
 Materials and Methods: The preparation of Abies webbiana extract was done and antimicrobial activity of Abies webbiana were tested with Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus through agar well diffusion method. Each bacterial culture was spread on the Luria-Bertani agar plates. Dried extract of Abies webbiana, dissolved in autoclave distilled water to make 25mg/mL, 50mg/mL, 100mg/mL. Incubated for 24 hours at 37o C and diameter of zone of inhibition were recorded in millimeter and compared with standard amoxicillin. Cytotoxic activity of Abies webbiana was assessed using brine shrimp lethality assay. A total of 10 nauplii were added into the three replicates of each concentration of the prepared extract. After the period of 24 hours the remaining brine shrimp were counted.
 Results: The results of the study revealed that the the Abies webbiana formulation based mouthwash is having significantly higher antimicrobial activity than the antibiotic against S. aureus at all the tested concentrations whereas against E. faecalis the antimicrobial effect was significantly lower than the antibiotic. Against S. mutans, higher concentrations of the mouthwash had the antimicrobial effect comparable to that of the antibiotic. The antimicrobial effect against C. albicans was very less for all the tested concentrations of the mouthwash and the antibiotic. This mouthwash also possessed cytotoxic effects on nauplii which were within normal limits and it was found that the nauplii alive was directly proportional to the concentrations except in the concentration of 40μl.
 Conclusion: Within the limitations of the current study, ethanolic extract of Abies webbiana based preparation of mouthwash shows the antimicrobial activity almost comparable to amoxicillin. It was also revealed that it possesses less cytotoxic effect against brine shrimp which are within normal limits.