Screening of ethanolic extracts of medicinal herbal drugs against oral microbes

Aim: The aim of the present study is to screen the ethanolic extracts of medicinal herbal drugs against oral microbes. Objective: In this study, 3 medicinal herbs were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against five common oral bacteria as a screen for potential candidates for the development of natural antibiotics. Methods: Ethanolic extracts of medicinal herbs were tested for activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus mutans, and Streptococcus sanguis grown in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth. A broth microdilutionassay was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). A disk diffusion assay was performed by inoculating bacterial cultures on BHI agar plates with paper disks soaked in each of the medicinal herb extracts. Results: The ethanolic extracts of many of the 3 medicinal herbs showed antimicrobial activity against the five types of pathogenic oral bacteria. The extracts of Caralluma fimbriata, Hemidesmus indicus, and Grape seed effectively inhibited the growth of oral bacteria and showed distinct bactericidal activity. Conclusion: These results suggest that alternative medicines with proven antimicrobial effects, such as Caralluma fimbriata, Hemidesmus indicus, and Grape seed may be useful for the treatment of dental diseases.