Antimicrobial Activity of Medicinal Plants against Periodontopathogenic Bacterias

Objective: To identify antimicrobial effects of extracts of plants used in tradicional medicine of Nuevo Leon (State of Mexico) against microorganisms highly related to periodontal disease, for both treatment and prevention (an In Vitro study).

Methods: The disc difusión assay was used to screen for antimicrobial activity of the crude methanolic extracts of Florencia cernua (Hojasen) Larrea tridentata (Gobernadora), and Calendula officinalis (Calendula).

They were applied against bacterial strain related to periodontal disease, as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Streptococcus intermedius, and Tannerella forsythensis.

Chlorexidine was used as a positive control.

Results: Compared to Chlorexidine, F. Cernua, had better antimicrobial activity against Tannerella forsytensis ( p<.05). then L. tridentata, and C. officinalis.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that F. cernua is a plant with better antimicrobial activity than Clorexidine, and offers the opportunity to obtain compounds that can be used to prevent as well to treat the periodontal diseases.