Anti cariogenic effect of terminalia chebula

Evaluation of In Vitro Antiprotease Activity of Selected Traditional Medicinal Herbs in Dentistry and Its In Silico PASS Prediction

Background

Dental/oral diseases are one of the significant public health problems globally. Herbal medicines for managing oral diseases are considered an effective alternative to synthetic compounds due to their lower side effect. Azadirachta indica, Terminalia chebula, Camellia sinensis, and Piper nigrum are used to control and prevent oral inflammations in dentistry. In this study, we have evaluated the protease inhibition activity of these plant extracts, and further, the binding mode of the active ingredient of these plants with trypsin was studied using molecular docking.

Methods

In this study, protease inhibition activity was carried out using aqueous extracts of the plant parts such as Azadirachta indica (neem) twig, Terminalia chebula (Haritaki) fruit, Camellia sinensis (green tea) powder, and Piper nigrum (kali miri) seed. Next, to explore the binding mode of active ingredients azadirachtin, chebuligenic acid, catechin, and piperine with trypsin, we employed a molecular docking study using AutoDock4.2.

Results

The results revealed that the Azadirachta indica plant extract showed an IC50 value of 96.19 μg mL⁻¹, Camellia sinensis IC50 value of 188.50 μg mL⁻¹, Piper nigrum IC50 value of 371.20 μg mL⁻¹, and Terminalia chebula IC50 value of 639.48 μg mL⁻¹, when compared with standard drug diclofenac sodium, had IC50 value 93.00 μg mL⁻¹. Further, the docking result reveals that all the main active ingredients of these plants have significant binding affinity and prefer the same binding pocket of trypsin.

Conclusion

Hence, our results show the importance of traditional plants Azadirachta indica, Terminalia chebula, green tea, and Piper nigrum to control oral disease conditions. As they show significant protease inhibition activity, hence, the active ingredient could act as a potential anti-inflammatory agent and further help to prevent or control oral disease conditions such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

Comparison of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Four Different Plant Extracts against Cariogenic Bacteria: An In Vitro Study

Background

Dental caries is an oral disease which is infectious in nature associated with various pathogenic microorganisms and is prevalent across the world.

Aim

To evaluate and compare the anticariogenic properties of the different plant extracts against various cariogenic microorganisms.

Materials and methods

In phase I, the anticariogenic efficacy of four different herbal extracts, namely Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), Terminalia chebula (Harad), Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi), and Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice), was evaluated against two strains of bacteria viz. Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus. In the second phase of the study, the overall decay depth was compared.

Results

In phase I, zone of inhibition was significantly higher in G. glabra (Licorice) followed the descending order by O. sanctum (Tulsi), T. chebula (Harad), and T. cordifolia (Guduchi), respectively. In the second phase, it was found that the decay depth was significantly higher in T. cordifolia (Guduchi) followed the descending order by T. chebula (Harad), O. sanctum (Tulsi), and G. glabra (Licorice), respectively.

Conclusion

Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) extract had potent antibacterial efficacy against S. mutans and L. acidophilus.

Clinical significance

Synthetic drugs have many adverse effects, so more attention has been paid to natural remedies because they are safe and effective. Today, the main interest is shifted toward the drugs which is derived from plants, which has led to the screening of many herbal plants for their potential antimicrobial activity and the same can be used clinically as an alternative of synthetic drugs used in dentistry.

How to cite this article

Rai A, Tripathi AM, Saha S, et al. Comparison of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Four Different Plant Extracts against Cariogenic Bacteria: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(4):361–367.

Determination of antibacterial activity and metabolite profile of Ruta graveolens against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus

BACKGROUND

Ruta graveolens is one of the most used phytomedicines. To date, there is no report of determining the bioactivity of R. graveolens against cariogenic causing bacteria (Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to determine the antibacterial activity and metabolite profile of R. graveolens against S. mutans and S. sobrinus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

R. graveolens plant material was collected and processed in the month of February. The plant material was extracted by Soxhlet apparatus using methanol solvent. Two strains of S. mutans and two strains of S. sobrinus were isolated from dental caries-active participants and cultured on mitis salivarius-bacitracin agar. The antibacterial susceptibility testing of methanolic extract of R. graveolens was performed by disc diffusion method. The metabolite profile of the plant extract was determined using electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

The methanolic extract of R. graveolens showed a promising antibacterial activity against S. mutans and S. sobrinus. Two compounds named γ-fagarine and kokusaginine were identified from the methanolic extract of R. graveolens.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that R. graveolens contains significant antibacterial activity. However, further investigations are suggested to understand the anticaries properties of these pure compounds.

Natural Therapeutic Options in Endodontics - A Review

Complete eradication of microbial biofilms and elimination of the smear layer are the key factors during endodontic treatment. Various chemical irrigants have been proposed in the literature for the same. The major setback with these chemical irrigants is that they are not bio-friendly to the dental and peri-radicular tissues. In the recent years, research to use natural products for root canal disinfection has gained importance. The aim of this article is to compile various herbal products that have been used as an irrigants and intracanal medicaments in the field of Endodontics to eradicate the biofilm and remove smear layer.