Abstract
The use of organic components from plants as an alternative antimicrobial agent is becoming popular due to the development of drug-resistance in various pathogens. Essential oils from fresh (MF-1) and dried (MD-1) roots of Salvadora persica L. were extracted and benzyl isothiocynate was determined as their chief constituent using GC-MS and GC-FID. The antibiofilm and antimicrobial activities of MD-1 and MF-1 against Streptococcus mutans a dental caries causing bacteria were determined using multiple assays. These activities were compared with chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) and clove oil, well known antimicrobial agents for oral hygiene. Essential oils demonstrated IC50 values (10–11 µg/mL) comparable to that of CHX, showed a significant reduction (82 ± 7–87 ± 6%) of the biofilm formation at a very low concentration. These results were supported by RT-PCR studies showing change in the expression levels of AtlE, gtfB, ymcA and sodA genes involved in autolysis, biofilm formation and oxidative stress, respectively. The results presented in this study show the robust bactericidal and antibiofilm activity of MD-1 and MF-1 against S. mutans which is comparable to Chlorhexidine digluconate. Our results suggest that these essential oils can be as effective as CHX and hence can serve as a good alternative antimicrobial agent for oral hygiene.
Highlights
Salvadora is a small genus of evergreen trees or shrubs found mainly in hot and dry areas of Asia and tropical Africa
Among the three essential oils tested in this study, the least effective was clove oil. These results conclusively prove that the tested essential oil possess strong antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against S. mutans, which is comparable to chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX)
The results show that the oil yields and contents of chemical constituents significantly differed in fresh and dried S. persica L. roots essential oils
Summary
Salvadora is a small genus of evergreen trees or shrubs found mainly in hot and dry areas of Asia and tropical Africa. It belongs to the family Salvadoraceae, a small plant family comprising of about three genera and a total of 11 known species [1,2]. S. persica L., native to middle East and Africa, is a small well branched shrub with greenish yellow flowers and small red fruits when ripe. 6–7 m with greenish small leaves (3.8–6.3 by 2–3.2 cm), having a robust aroma of cress or mustard [4,5]. S. persica L. roots/stems are known with various names like Mustard tree, Miswak, Koyojii and Pilu in
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