Formulation and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Boswellia serrata Roxb. Gel against Periodontal Pathogens: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Aim: To assess the antimicrobial activity of Boswellia serrata Roxb. in the form of gel against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Tannerella forsythia. Materials and methods: The bacterial strains of selected periopathogens were cultured in thioglycolate broth. The serial dilution method was used to evaluate Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The tubes which were sensitive to MIC were plated and incubated for 24 hours. The colony count was done to determine the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). Depending on the obtained concentrations, Boswellia serrata Roxb. gel was formulated in five concentrations and the physicochemical properties were evaluated. The periopathogens were cultured in brain–heart infusion agar plates. A disk diffusion test was performed to determine the zone of inhibition. Results: Boswellia serrata Roxb. impeded the growth of the selected periopathogens in a dose-dependent manner. F. nucleatum showed the maximum zone of inhibition at 3 μg/mL concentration. Conclusion: The physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of our study reveal that Boswellia serrata Roxb. gel can be used as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) as a topical gel or as a local drug delivery agent. Clinical significance: Periodontal diseases are primarily caused by plaque biofilm which commences with inflammation of the investing tissues of the tooth which, if left untreated, leads to progressive attachment loss. NSPT is the gold standard and indispensable phase of periodontal therapy. The insufficiency of NSPT in obliterating microbial growth in deep periodontal pockets and spurting microbial resistance to antibiotic drugs widened the array of research on botanical therapeutics. Boswellia serrata Roxb. is widely gaining popularity because of its antimicrobial properties and nary a side effect.