Anti-microbial activity of Punica granatum on streptococcus in dental caries patients and healthy individuals: A comparative study

Abstract

Background: Researchers today are driven toward the medicinal and therapeutic value of the natural products like Aloe vera, basil, turmeric, green tea, pomegranate (Punica granatum) to prevent dental caries. The aim of the present study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of pomegranate aril extract on streptococci in dental caries patients and healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: The study group included 40 subjects; age comprised of 18-26 years 20 dental caries patients were taken as an experimental group (after observing the decayed missing fi lled teeth index) and 20 healthy individuals without caries as a control group. Two samples were collected from each subject. The collected sample was streaked on Mitis Salivarius Agar, which was incubated at 37°C for 24 h. The colony forming units (CFU) were counted using manual colony counter, and the data were analyzed using paired t-test and unpaired t-test. Results: The results obtained after pomegranate swish in the experimental group showed a percentage reduction of 52.2% (P < 0.0001) and 33.8% (P < 0.0001) in control group for the CFU. The comparison of after sample between the experimental group and the control group was highly signifi cant. Conclusion: The result obtained in the study clearly demonstrates that the pomegranate aril extract has an antimicrobial eff ect against Streptococcus, thus acting as an anti-cariogenic agent.