Potential Effect of Manuka Oil Extract (Leptospermum scoparium) against Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus sanguinis
Author(s): Abbas S Alkurwi* and Alaa Omran Ali Almosawi
Abstract
Objective: The manuka tree has been used in traditional medicine by maori people in New Zealand to treat a plethora of aliments since thousands of years. It has recently gained attention of medical research because of its broad spectrum antibacterial effect against bacteria due to its β-triketon component. Periodontal diseases are poly microbial infections caused by dental plaque, which is formed by the adherence of early colonizing bacteria to the acquired pellicle covering the non-shedding surfaces in the oral cavity. To this time, chlorhexidine is considered the golden standard in chemical plaque control, however, its reported side effects emerge after a short period of use limiting its benefits Therefore, this study aimed to study the antibacterial potential of manuka essential oil against primary dental colonizers namely Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus sanguinis.
Materials and methods: Samples of supra gingival plaque were taken from 6 healthy patients with mild to moderate gingivitis. Bacterial Identification was done using polymerase chain reaction alongside with morphological and biochemical tests. Sensitivity testing was done using agar well diffusion on muller hinton agar and then minimum inhibitory concentration was measured using two fold serial broth micro dilutions. The data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 25 software and significance of all the statistical tests was determined at p<0.05.
Results: Manuka essential oil aqueous suspension at 20% concentration exhibited a comparable effect to chlorhexidine 0.2% when tested against Streptococcus mitis, while Streptococcus sanguinis showed smaller inhibition zones on muller hinton agar at 20% v/v, but not significantly different than c5. Chlorhexidine 0.2% (p>0.0) minimum in hibitory concentrations for Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus sanguinis were (0.0625% v/v, 0.0156% v/v) respectively
Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, manuka essential oil possesses a potent antibacterial effect against Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus sanguinis in vitro. Further studies are needed to manufacture a safe and chemically stable formula to be used in vivo. However, it can be a promising therapeutic agent to incorporate in the manufacturing of oral care products.