Antibacterial activity and post-antibiotic effect of flurithromycin compared with other macrolides and penicillins against periodontal pathogens

Ocimum americanum L. Essential Oil Exhibits Antimicrobial Activity Against Oral Bacteria Related to Periodontal Disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial property of essential oil extracted from the leaves ofOcimum americanumagainst oral bacteria related to periodontal disease. Three species of periodontal pathogens includingPorphyromonas gingivalisW50,Prevotella intermediaATCC 25611 andFusobacterium nucleatumATCC 25586 were included in the study. Agar diffusion was performed initially to screen the antimicrobial activity ofO.americanumessential oil. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were then determined using the Millipore Membrane method. The result showed that in the agar diffusion, essential oil extracted fromOcimum americanumexhibited antimicrobial activity against all test bacteria with the zone of inhibition ranging from 24 to 30 mm. The MIC values againstP. gingivalisandP. intermediawere 0.35 mg/mL whereas that ofF. nucleatumwas 0.70 mg/mL. The MBC values againstP. gingivalisandP. intermediawere 0.70 mg/mL whereas that ofF. nucleatumwas 1.4 mg/mL. In conclusion,O.americanumessential oil has an antimicrobial activity which may be a beneficial component of oral health care products to control or prevent periodontal disease by reducing these bacteria in the oral cavity.

Comparison of Systemic Flurithromycin Therapy and Clinical Procedures in the Treatment of Periodontal Diseases

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate, in 20 periodontal patients, the microbial and clinical effects of flurithromycin therapy plus scaling and root planning (SRP) in comparison with SRP alone. Clinical assessments of plaque, bleeding on probing and pocket depth were made prior to SRP alone and SRP plus flurithromycin therapy (375 mg twice daily for 5 days) and after both treatments. Subgingival plaque samples (n. 180) were taken prior to and after both treatments and analyzed by conventional bacteriological procedures. Differences in pocket depth and prevalence of bacterial species were analyzed pre- and post-therapies using statistical analyses. A significant decrease (p<0.001) was seen for pocket depth post SRP alone and post SRP plus flurithromycin. After two treatments, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides forsythus and Prevotella melaninogenica were eradicated from all tested sites. If we compare the prevalence of the species isolated after SRP alone and after SRP plus flurithromycin statistically significant differences were detected for P. gingivalis and for Fusobacterium nucleatum (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Flurithromycin can be considered a useful adjunct to mechanical periodontal treatment since it is more efficient in eliminating periodontal pathogens.

Antibacterial activity of medicinal plant extracts against periodontopathic bacteria

This study was performed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Althaea officinalis L. roots, Arnica montana L. flowers, Calendula officinalis L. flowers, Hamamelis virginiana L. leaves, Illicium verum Hook. fruits and Melissa officinalis L. leaves, against anaerobic and facultative aerobic periodontal bacteria: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella spp., Fusobacterium nucleatum, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, Veilonella parvula, Eikenella corrodens, Peptostreptococcus micros and Actinomyces odontolyticus. The methanol extracts of H. virginiana and A. montana and, to a lesser extent, A. officinalis were shown to possess an inhibiting activity (MIC < or = 2048 mg/L) against many of the species tested. In comparison, M. officinalis and C. officinalis extracts had a lower inhibiting activity (MIC > or = 2048 mg/L) against all the tested species with the exception of Prevotella sp. Illicium verum methanol extract was not very active though it had a particular good activity against E. corrodens. The results suggest the use of the alcohol extracts of H. virginiana, A. montana and A. officinalis for topical medications in periodontal prophylactics.