A novel antimicrobial agent

Abstract

AIMS: A healthy periodontium with strong bone support is essential for optimal orthodontic tooth movement. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) are strongly associated with early-onset, progressive and refractory periodontal disease. These gram-negative bacteria will induce loss of the periodontal ligament and tooth supporting alveolar bone. The aims of the investigation were to study the effect of naringin on the in vitro growth of periodontal pathogens Aa and Pg and to determine the effect of naringin on several other oral bacteria and yeasts MATERIALS AND METHOD: The antimicrobial effects were determined in vitro using the broth dilution assay. Aa and Pg grown to a density of 107 to 108 cfu/mL, were incubated with test and control solution: naringin solution in different concentrations (0.25, 0.1, and 0.0625 g/mL), or 0.2 per cent chlorhexidine as the positive control, or 0.9 per cent sodium chloride (NaCl) solution as the negative control. Aliquots for the growth assay were taken as soon as the solutions were mixed, and after 3, 6 and 24 hours of incubation in an anaerobic chamber. Colonies appearing on the blood agar plates were visually counted after 3 days for Aa and after 5 days for Pg. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) of naringin against each aerobic micro-organism was defi ned as the minimum concentration of naringin that reduced the optical density to 50 per cent of the negative control within 24 hours of incubation in the microplate spectrophotometer. RESULTS: When Aa and Pg were incubated with naringin, their growth began to be inhibited at 3 hours. For Pg, the effect gradually became pronounced with time; by 24 hours complete inhibition was achieved by the 0.1 and 0.25 g/mL. Naringin also had an inhibitory effect against all bacteria and yeasts tested. The MIC50 values ranged from 0.0098 to 0.125 g/mL. Thus, naringin could be a useful compound for development as a safe and naturally occurring anti-microbial agent against periodontal disease or other oral lesions, especially during treatment with fi xed orthodontic appliances. CONCLUSION: Naringin had an in vitro inhibitory effect on the two tested periodontal pathogens, Aa and Pg. Relatively low concentrations of naringin have an inhibitory effect on the viability of all bacteria and yeast tested, including methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus and C. albicans.