Solution properties and comparative antimicrobial efficacy study of different brands of toothpaste of Nepal

Abstract

Background: The main objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of toothpaste formulations in giving total protection to the oral cavity. So, three important solution properties: surface tension, conductivity, and pH measurements, have been investigated for eight kinds of commercial herbal and non-herbal based toothpaste of Nepal. The study was extended to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of toothpaste formulations against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli), and this was done by standard agar well diffusion technique. Amikacin (30 μg/disk) was used as a positive control to compare the antibacterial potency of the investigated toothpaste. Results: The surface tension of all toothpaste formulations increased with the decrease in concentration. However, the conductivity of the formulations decreased with the decrease in concentration. The highest pH of 8.24 was recorded for Dabur Super Salt (DSS) and all values were found to be higher in tap water solutions. All toothpaste formulations showed significant growth inhibition against both S. aureus and E. coli. The overall antibacterial sensitivity of Dabur Red (DR) is higher for S. aureus. The solid material content was found to be highest for Dabur Herbal Gel (DHG) and lowest for Pepsodent (PD). Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed all toothpaste formulations as effective in inhibiting the growth of tested bacterial species. Toothpaste formulations were found slightly alkaline, which favors bacterial growth inhibition. Increasing surface tension and decreasing conductivity value of toothpaste relative to a decrease in concentration favor its desirable cleansing action.