Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple) extracts shows strong antibacterial effects against dental infection pathogens

AbstractBackground: One of the factors involved in tooth decay is pathogenic bacteria, which due to the development of antibiotic resistance in them, it is necessary to invent new treatment options. One of these therapeutic approaches is to investigate the potential of medicinal plant extracts with antibacterial properties against pathogenic bacteria that cause tooth decay.Objectives: Therefore, in the present study, the antimicrobial effects of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple) were studied on pathogens isolated from dental infections.Methods: Aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of bitter apple fruit were prepared and their total phenol content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity were studied. In the next step, two clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans and Bacillus subtilis were exposed to different extracts of bitter apple fruit to check the antibacterial effects based on disc diffusion method. Broth microdilution method was used to determine MIC.Results: Ethanol extract of bitter apple fruit showed the highest content of total phenol, total flavonoid and antioxidant capacity equivalent to ascorbic acid. All the extracts showed antibacterial effects on the isolates in the disc diffusion test. The MICs of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of bitter apple fruit against the clinical isolate of S. mutans were estimated to be ۴۰۰۰, ۱۰۰۰ and ۲۰۰۰ µg/ml, respectively, and all these extracts showed an MIC equal to ۲۰۰۰ µg/ml against B. subtilis. The MBCs of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of bitter apple fruit were estimated to be ۸۰۰۰, ۲۰۰۰ and ۴۰۰۰ µg/ml against the clinical isolate of S. mutans isolated from decayed teeth, and against B. subtilis MBC was measured to be ۸۰۰۰, ۴۰۰۰ and ۸۰۰۰ µg/ml respectively.Conclusions: Ethanolic extract of bitter apple has the potential to be used in combating bacteria caused dental infection.Abstract Background: One of the factors involved in tooth decay is pathogenic bacteria, which due to the development of antibiotic resistance in them, it is necessary to invent new treatment options. One of these therapeutic approaches is to investigate the potential of medicinal plant extracts with antibacterial properties against pathogenic bacteria that cause tooth decay. Objectives: Therefore, in the present study, the antimicrobial effects of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple) were studied on pathogens isolated from dental infections. Methods: Aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of bitter apple fruit were prepared and their total phenol content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity were studied. In the next step, two clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans and Bacillus subtilis were exposed to different extracts of bitter apple fruit to check the antibacterial effects based on disc diffusion method. Broth microdilution method was used to determine MIC. Results: Ethanol extract of bitter apple fruit showed the highest content of total phenol, total flavonoid and antioxidant capacity equivalent to ascorbic acid. All the extracts showed antibacterial effects on the isolates in the disc diffusion test. The MICs of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of bitter apple fruit against the clinical isolate of S. mutans were estimated to be ۴۰۰۰, ۱۰۰۰ and ۲۰۰۰ µg/ml, respectively, and all these extracts showed an MIC equal to ۲۰۰۰ µg/ml against B. subtilis. The MBCs of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of bitter apple fruit were estimated to be ۸۰۰۰, ۲۰۰۰ and ۴۰۰۰ µg/ml against the clinical isolate of S. mutans isolated from decayed teeth, and against B. subtilis MBC was measured to be ۸۰۰۰, ۴۰۰۰ and ۸۰۰۰ µg/ml respectively. Conclusions: Ethanolic extract of bitter apple has the potential to be used in combating bacteria caused dental infection.

کلیدواژه ها:

: Extract ، bitter apple ، Flavonoid ، dental infection.