Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the periodontium, is primarily caused by gram-negative anaerobic bacteria. Conventional periodontal therapy aims to eradicate pathogenic microflora through mechanical debridement, often supplemented with chemical agents. However, the use of these chemical adjuvants is frequently associated with adverse drug reactions and the development of antimicrobial resistance. Consequently, researchers are increasingly exploring herbal antibacterial agents, such asOcimum sanctum(Tulsi), as viable alternatives due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and reduced side effect profile. This study aims to analyze the antibacterial efficacy of the ethanolic extract ofO. sanctum(Tulsi) againstTannerella forsythia, a key bacterium of the red complex, using chlorhexidine as a reference standard. Traditionally, chlorhexidine has been utilized as an adjunct to nonsurgical therapy in the treatment of patients with periodontal disease. The cold extraction method was used to prepare the ethanolic extract ofO. sanctumleaves. The resultant substance was mixed into five different concentrations (3.13%, 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, and 50%) using dimethylformamide as the solvent. The antimicrobial activity of these varying concentrations was assessed againstT. forsythiain culture plates employing the agar well diffusion method, with 0.2% chlorhexidine serving as the positive reference. The zone of inhibition of bacterial growth has been determined and compared with that of 0.2% chlorhexidine. The ethanolic extract ofO. sanctumexhibited highly statistically significant antibacterial activity againstT. forsythia(p < 0.001). At a dosage of 25 mg/mL, the extract created a zone of inhibition measuring 17 mm, while at 50 mg/mL, the zone of inhibition increased to 25 mm. However, when compared to 0.2% chlorhexidine, which had a zone of inhibition of 32 mm,O. sanctumshowed a slightly smaller inhibitory effect. The extract ofTulsishowed notable antibacterial activity againstT. forsythia, with the antibacterial impact observed at the 50 mg/mL dilution.
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