FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF DENTAL GEL CONTAINING ESSENTIAL OIL OF CORIANDER AGAINST ORAL PATHOGENS

The objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial potency of essential oil of Coriander against clinical samples isolated from the oral cavity of various patients and to formulate a suitable topical preparation containing Coriander oil. A total of 41 swabs were obtained from patients (age between 20 - 50 years) which were diagnosed with oral infections like periodontal abscess, periapical abscess, chronic periodontities, periapical granuloma, dental caries, root caries and plaque samples. These samples were inoculated on Blood agar, Mac-conkeys agar and MRS Lactobacilli MRS agar, Mutans Sanguis agar, KF Streptococcal agar at 37°C for 24 – 48 h aerobically except for KF Streptococcal agar and Mutans Sanguis agar, which was incubated anaerobically at 37°C for 24 – 48 h. The isolates were identified by standard microbiological procedures. The samples had positive cultures of Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, Lactobacilli, CONS. The susceptibility of these isolates was determined using agar disc diffusion method for zone of inhibition. The evaluation of antimicrobial potency was studied prior to gel formulation to compare the changes in activity after incorporation in polymer gel. The topical formulations were developed using different concentrations of polymers and evaluated for various physicochemical parameters like pH, color, clarity, viscosity, consistency, homogeneity, spread ability. The activity of oil was not much affected by incorporation in gel. The gel showed promising antimicrobial activity against the strains used for the study