Antimicrobial effect of a natural mouthwash against different microbial species

Abstract

Background: In Iranian traditional remedy, herbal and animal based medications have shown
considerable remedic effects on mucosal ulcers and inflammations. The present investigation
sought to determine a traditional animal based extract called ANNAS effects as a mouthwash
on prevalent human pathogenic bacteria.
Objectives: In this in-vitro experimental study the minimum inhibitory concentrations
(MICs) of ANNAS 0.2% and chlorhexidine (CHX) 0.2% as the control group were measured.
Materials and methods: The agar diffusion test (ADT) and the figures of the diameter of the
inhibition zone and minimal inhibitor concentration (MIC) and minimal bacterial
concentration (MBC) of the three bacterial test groups (Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Staphylococcus aureus and Lactobacillus casei) were also investigated. Data were analyzed
using SPSS software using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-whitney U test.
Results: The inhibitory zone of ANNAS was the same as CHX for Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and statistically greater for Staphylococcus aureus and Lactobacillus casei. The MIC of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa was significantly less in ANNAS compared to CHX and the same
as CHX in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. MBC of CHX and ANNAS
had no statistical difference for Staphylococcus aureus. ANNAS natural mouthwash might act
as an effective antibacterial agent against some bacterial species with fewer side-effects
compared to commercially available chemical mouth rinses.
Conclusion: this traditional extract proved the promising findings against microbial agents, it
also opens doors to future investigation on its impact on other human pathogens.