Abstract
Objective: To determine the in vitro antibacterial effect of different concentrations of the ethanol extract of Plantago major (plantain) on Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum . Material and Methods: Bacterial susceptibility tests were used in conjunction with the agar diffusion test and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test using the broth macrodilution technique . Results: Different concentrations of ethanol extract (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) dissolved in 70% ethanol were used, with a positive control (0.12% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetyl-pyridinium chloride) and a negative control (70% alcohol). The extracts at 75% and 100% showed inhibition halos against both strains studied. With 0.12% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetyl-pyridinium chloride, inhibition halos averaged 14.9 mm, in contrast to 70° alcohol, where no bacterial inhibition was observed. The MIC was 50% for both species . Conclusion: The ethanol extract of Plantago major presents an in vitro antibacterial effect on Porphyromonas gingivalis, they may have potential applications in food and pharmaceutical products.
Highlights
Periodontal disease is an inflammatory, infectious and multifactorial disease in which the normal balance between the microbial biofilm and host response is altered [1,2]
The aetiology of periodontal diseases is currently conceived as a dysbiosis between bacteria present in dental biofilms and the response of the host against this bacterial threat, which is responsible for the clinical expression of gingivitis or periodontitis [11,14,15]
Dental care is a component of great importance in the treatment of periodontitis, with the removal of bacterial biofilm being essential for remission of this disease [9,16], with certain local agents that act as adjuvants of periodontal therapy, such as chlorhexidine, currently considered the gold standard
Summary
Periodontal disease is an inflammatory, infectious and multifactorial disease in which the normal balance between the microbial biofilm and host response is altered [1,2]. Two of the most important periodontal pathogens, for their high virulence and association with onset, progression and severity of disease, are Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis [7,8,9,10,11] These species present several virulence factors: a capsule made of polysaccharides, important for evading the immune system; an endotoxin in their outer membrane, which participates in interrupting the immune homeostasis of the host, causing inflammation and destruction of the connective tissue and reabsorption of the alveolar bone; and external membrane vesicles, with internal enzymes that damage periodontal cells and neutrophils [12,13,14]. Reports of its adverse effects [16,17,18,19,20] have redirected research to the discovery of new agents, emphasizing natural agents because they have fewer side effects [21]
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