Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Eucalyptus globules Essential Oil on Streptococcus mitis Bacteria
Author(s): Noora Maher Khudhiar*
Abstract
Background: Resistance to synthetic antimicrobial agents has opened a new outlook in the search for natural alternatives. Plant-derived antibacterial compounds could be used in dentistry as a viable alternative treatment for oral disease. Among oral diseases, periodontal disease is caused by a variety of oral bacteria like Streptococcus mitis, the early colonizer of dental plaque. The study aims to evaluate the antibacterial effects of Eucalyptus globules essential oil against Streptococcus mitis, which is an early colonizer of dental plaque. Materials and Methods: Streptococcus mitis was isolated from a supragingival plaque sample of a subject. Streptococcus mitis sensitivity to various concentrations of Eucalyptus globules essential oil and compared with chlorhexidine mouthwash 0.2% as a +ve control and a distal water as a -ve control was determined by using the agar well diffusion. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of essential oil against bacteria was determined using the broth microdilution method. The agar plate technique was used to find the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the oil under test against the bacteria. Results: The Anti-Bacterial Activity (ABA) of Eucalyptus globules essential oil against Streptococcus mitis was shown to increase as the concentration of extract increased, with high significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) between all concentrations and chlorhexidine. Conclusion: The (ABA) of Eucalyptus globules essential oil against Streptococcus mitis suggests that it could be used as a natural antibacterial component in the treatment of oral infections.