Abstract

EFFICACY TESTING OF MOUTHWASHES AND HERBAL EXTRACTS ON CANDIDA ALBICANS NCIM 3471

Kulkarni Snehal*, Shaikh Tehniyat, Inamdar Azra, Syed Suiba, Shaikh Shafaque, Salvi Purva

Abstract

Background: Microbial communities found in mouth are highly complex with 1000 species present and are shown to be second most complex in our body after colon. Depending upon the age, immunity and personal hygiene, microorganisms can cause various acute and chronic infections such as Candidiasis and oral thrush. The study deserves further investigation for clinical application of herbal extracts in treatment of oral fungal infections. Objective: To test the efficacy of commercial mouthwashes and herbal extracts on Candida albicans NCIM 3471. Materials and Methods: Commercial mouthwashes (MW) and herbal extracts (HE) were used to check their efficacy on the oral opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans NCIM 3471, using disc diffusion method and well diffusion method. The presence of phytochemicals was assessed by qualitative analysis and TLC was performed using silica gel coated plate. Results: HE of clove, garlic and tea tree oil showed better antifungal activity than other HE. Combination of ginger and garlic followed by MW3 and garlic gave better synergistic action as compared to others. The MIC of clove, garlic, and tea tree oil was found to be 18.2μg/ml, 16.6μg/ml 32.56μg/ml respectively. The extracts also showed presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, ketones, phenols, flavanoids, and tannins. Conclusion: Results of the present study suggest that herbal extracts are more efficient as compared to mouthwashes and should be brought in commercial use.

Keywords: Candidiasis, Efficacy, Disc diffusion, Synergism.