Formulation and evaluation of herbal toothpaste containing eupatorium triplinervisleaf extract

Abstract

Eupatorium triplinervis (Asteraceae),popularly known as Ayapana , is widely used in folk medicine, due to its antibacterial, antifungal, analgesic, antianorexic, antiparasitic, anthelmintic and sedative properties. The present study was focused on evaluating the anti-bacterial action of the formulated herbal toothpaste containing Eupatorium triplinervis leaf extract and determining the best formula for preparing the toothpaste. The extraction was conducted by the soxhlet apparatus using methanol as solvent and was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was performed and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the extract were reported against three organisms- Staphylococcus aureus ( gram positive), E. coli ( gram negative) and oral flora by agar dilution assay. Also, the antibacterial activity by agar well diffusion method was determined for the prepared toothpaste against all the above three bacteria. The phytochemical screening shows the presence of coumarins in the methanolic extract which were responsible for the antibacterial activity of the extract. The formulations shows considerable zoneof inhibition when compared with a marketed toothpaste formulation (Dant kanti). Thus, this toothpaste preparation has antibacterial properties and so can be used for gingivitis and other bacterial disorders of the oral cavity.