THE EFFECT OF HERBAL EXTRACTS IN AN EXPERIMENTAL MOUTHRINSE ON ESTABLISHED PLAQUE AND GINGIVITIS

The purpose of the present study was to establish in vitro the inhibit ing effect of a herbal extract mixture on a selected number of micro-o rganisms and to test in vivo the effect of a mouthwash containing 6.3 mg/ml herbal extract mixture on plaque and gingivitis as compared to a minus active control mouthrinse. The herbal extract was a mixture of: Juniperus communis (juniper), Urtica dioca (nettle), Achillaea millef olium (yarrow); 1:1:1. In the study, in-vitro, the effect of pure herb al extract mixture on acid production of Streptococcus mutans was test ed and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIG) of the following mi cro-organisms were tested: Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Actynomyces viscosus, Actynomyces naeslundii, Actinobacillus actinomyc etemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, Campylobacter rectus, Fusobacteri um nucleatum, Veillonella parvula. The MIG-values for A. viscosus and P. gingivalis were 100 mg/ml. The MIG-values for A. naeslundii and A. actinomycetemcomitans were considerably lower (10 mg/ml). S. mitis was the most susceptible of the tested organisms to the extract with a MI C value of 1 mg/ml. S. mutans, C. rectus, V. parvula, and F. nucleatum were not influenced by the extracts. No inhibitory effect of the 6.3 mg/ml herbal extract mixture was observed on the acid production of S. mutans. For the study in-vivo, 45 volunteers were selected on the bas is of having moderate gingival inflammation. As efficacy parameters th e plaque index, modified gingival index and angulated bleeding index w ere assessed. The subjects were randomly divided among 3 experimental groups (2x test and 1 'minus active' control). The participants were r equested to rinse with 10 mi of mouthwash twice a day for a period of three months. After 6 weeks and 3 months, the same clinical indices as at baseline were recorded. The results show no difference between the two test groups and the control group. In conclusion, the results of the present study have shown that the mixture of the 3 herbal extracts , Juniperus communis, Urtica dioca and Achillaea millefolium when used in a mouthrinse has no effect on plaque growth and gingival health.