In-Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Selected Medicinal Plant Extracts against Dental Caries Causing Pathogens

Abstract

The antimicrobial efficacy of the following extracts: methanolic, ethanolic, acetone, petroleum ether, and aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica leaves (Neem), Eugenia caryophyllata flower buds (cloves) and Ficus Bengalensis bark (Banyan) were tested against standard cultures of dental pathogens, Bacteria: Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Fungi: Candida albicans (C. albicans) and the results were compared with clinical isolates using the agar well diffusion method and Minimum inhibitory concentration. The findings indicate that clove extracts, neem extracts (except aqueous extract) had a significant inhibition and Ficus extracts does not show significant activity against dental pathogens. Among the clove extracts, petroleum ether extracts demonstrated strong inhibition of 40 ± 0.27 mm and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) is less than < 0.5 mg/ml. In future, this extract may prove to be a be a significant source for a novel, potent herbal remedy for dental infections.