Open AccessInhibitory effects of propolis and essential oils on oral bacteria
Author(s) -
Zoran Tambur,
Biljana Miljković-Selimović,
Dolores Opačić,
Branislava Vuković,
Adam Malešević,
Luka Ivančajić,
Ema Aleksić
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of infection in developing countries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.322
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 2036-6590
pISSN - 1972-2680
DOI - 10.3855/jidc.14312
Subject(s) - propolis , streptococcus mutans , antimicrobial , minimum bactericidal concentration , streptococcus mitis , minimum inhibitory concentration , microbiology and biotechnology , food science , chemistry , actinomyces naeslundii , essential oil , lactobacillus acidophilus , fusobacterium nucleatum , traditional medicine , biology , bacteria , streptococcus , medicine , porphyromonas gingivalis , genetics , probiotic
Propolis is a natural composite balsam. In the past decade, propolis has been extensively investigated as an adjuvant for the treatment of periodontitis. This study aimed to investigate antimicrobial activities of propolis solutions and plant essential oils against some oral cariogenic (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, Lactobacillus acidophilus) and periodontopathic bacteria (Actinomyces odontolyticus, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum).
Methodology: Determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): The antimicrobial activity of propolis and essential oils was investigated by the agar dilution method. Serial dilutions of essential oils were prepared in plates, and the assay plates were estimated to contain 100, 50, 25 and 12.5 µg/mL of active essential oils. Dilutions for propolis were 50, 25, 12.5 and 6.3 µg/mL of active propolis solutions.
Results: Propolis solutions dissolved in benzene, diethyl ether and methyl chloride, demonstrated equal effectiveness against all investigated oral bacteria (MIC=12.5 µg/mL). Propolis solution dissolved in acetone displayed MIC of 6.3 µg/mL only for Lactobacillus acidophilus. At the MIC of 12.5 µg/mL, essential oils of Salvia officinalis and Satureja kitaibelii were effective against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, respectively. For the latter, the MIC value of Salvia officinalis was twice higher.
Conclusions: The results indicate that propolis and plant essential oils appear to be a promising source of antimicrobial agents that may prevent dental caries and other oral infectious diseases.