Evaluation of the Antibacterial Effect of Licorice Extract on Oral Microflora and its Effect on Salivary PH

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the antibacterial effect of Licorice (as a mouth wash) on total salivary bacterial count in relation to chlorohexidine mouthwash on a group of Egyptian children and assess the effectiveness of Licorice extract rinse on salivary PH. Materials and methods :A total of 60 normal apparently healthy children aged between 6-12 years from both genders were involved in this study and equally divided into four groups(n=15) regarding to the type and concentration of the received mouthwash : group I : included children used licorice extract mouth-rinse (75%), group ІІ: included children used licorice extract mouth rinse (50%), group ІІІ: included children used licorice extract mouth-rinse (25%) and group ІV: as a control group in which children used chlorohexidine 0.12% mouth wash for one minute. They were told to gargle with 10 ml of mouthwash for one minute three times a day for five days. Results: Significant reduction in the total bacterial count with the four studied groups after mouth rinsing for 5 days. However, chlorohexidine showed a significant reduction in total bacterial count when compared to Licorice extract .Regarding the pH value and the percent change in pH, the highest mean value was recorded in group І, and the difference between the 4 groups was highly statistically significant. Conclusion: Licorice aqueous root extract has antimicrobial effect against total bacterial count and it is more efficient in comparison with Chlorohexidine. Licorice aqueous root extract rapidly rise salivary PH.