ANTI-MICROBIAL EFFICACY OF AN ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF MURRAYA KOENIGII AGAINST PERIODONTAL PATHOGENS LIKE PORPHYROMONAS GINGIVALIS AND AGGREGATIBACTER ACTINOMYCETEMCOMITANS: IN VITRO ANALYSIS

Abstract

Periodontitis is primarily an infectious disease with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans present in plaque biofilm as the key pathogens, causing destruction of supporting periodontal tissues. Herbal formulations are widely substituting synthetic anti-microbials due to their minimal adverse effects and cost effectiveness. Murraya koenigii (M. koenigii) is a well-known anti-microbial agent used in treating systemic infections. Hence its anti-microbial efficacy against key periodontal pathogens also needs to be tested. The aim of this study is to determine Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and zone of inhibition of M. koenigii ethanolic extract against P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans. Thioglycollate agar was used for culturing both P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans. For determination of MIC and MBC broth dilution technique was used. For MIC, serial dilutions of extract were made and culture tubes were incubated in an anaerobic jar and observed for their turbidity. For MBC determination, dilution tubes sensitive to MIC were plated and incubated for the next 24 hours to monitor growth, and colony count was taken. MIC results showed A. actinomycetemcomitans was more sensitive to M. koenigii extract than P. gingivalis and got inhibited at 0.8 μg/ml. Also, MBC results showed extract has strong bactericidal activity towards A. actinomycetemcomitans. Disk diffusion test results showed bactericidal activity against both A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis with a larger inhibition zone (15 mm) towards P. gingivalis at a concentration of 75 μl/ml. M. koenigii ethanolic extract is bactericidal against periodontal pathogens like A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis and can be used as a safe and effective alternative for synthetic chemotherapeutic agents in the future.