Unleashing nature's defense: potent antimicrobial power of plant extracts against oral pathogens and Streptococcus mutans biofilms

ObjectivesThe increasing demand for alternatives to antibiotics against resistant bacteria has led to research on natural products. The aim of this study was to analyze the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of 16 Mediterranean herb extracts.Materials and methodsThe extracts were analyzed using...

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Main Authors: Joachim Hickl, Aikaterini Argyropoulou, Ali Al-Ahmad, Elmar Hellwig, Alexios Leandros Skaltsounis, Annette Wittmer, Kirstin Vach, Lamprini Karygianni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Oral Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2024.1469174/full
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author Joachim Hickl
Aikaterini Argyropoulou
Ali Al-Ahmad
Elmar Hellwig
Alexios Leandros Skaltsounis
Annette Wittmer
Kirstin Vach
Lamprini Karygianni
author_facet Joachim Hickl
Aikaterini Argyropoulou
Ali Al-Ahmad
Elmar Hellwig
Alexios Leandros Skaltsounis
Annette Wittmer
Kirstin Vach
Lamprini Karygianni
author_sort Joachim Hickl
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesThe increasing demand for alternatives to antibiotics against resistant bacteria has led to research on natural products. The aim of this study was to analyze the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of 16 Mediterranean herb extracts.Materials and methodsThe extracts were analyzed using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the extracts from Achillea taygetea, Cistus creticus ssp. creticus, Cistus monspeliensis, Lavandula stoechas, Mentha aquatica, Mentha longifolia, Origanum vulgare, Phlomis cretica, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia sclarea, Satureja parnassica, Satureja thymbra, Sideritis euboea, Sideritis syriaca, Stachys spinosa, and Thymus longicaulis were determined against eight oral bacteria and fungus Candida albicans. Microtiter plate test was conducted to evaluate the antibiofilm activity against Streptococcus mutans.ResultsOverall, all tested extracts efficiently suppressed the growth of obligate anaerobic bacteria. When applied at concentrations ≥0.15 mg/ml, the extracts exhibited moderate to high antibiofilm activity comparable to that of chlorhexidine (CHX) against S. mutans. Interestingly, R. officinalis (MIC: 0.01–0.06 mg/ml) and O. vulgare (MIC: 0.04–1.25 mg/ml) demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity against oral bacteria. Additionally, R. officinalis and L. stoechas significantly inhibited S. mutans biofilm formation at 0.15 mg/ml.ConclusionsThe tested plant extracts can be considered as alternative natural antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents.Clinical relevanceMediterranean herb extracts show promise as natural alternatives to combat oral bacteria and biofilm formation, offering potential new therapies for infectious oral diseases in the context of antibiotic resistance.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-e8b5c50441bb45c4a485db2a31068a7e2025-08-20T02:50:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oral Health2673-48422024-12-01510.3389/froh.2024.14691741469174Unleashing nature's defense: potent antimicrobial power of plant extracts against oral pathogens and Streptococcus mutans biofilmsJoachim Hickl0Aikaterini Argyropoulou1Ali Al-Ahmad2Elmar Hellwig3Alexios Leandros Skaltsounis4Annette Wittmer5Kirstin Vach6Lamprini Karygianni7Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyDepartment of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyDepartment of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyDepartment of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceInstitute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyInstitute for Medical Biometry and Statistics, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyClinic of Conservative and Preventive Dentistry, Center of Dental Medicine University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandObjectivesThe increasing demand for alternatives to antibiotics against resistant bacteria has led to research on natural products. The aim of this study was to analyze the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of 16 Mediterranean herb extracts.Materials and methodsThe extracts were analyzed using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the extracts from Achillea taygetea, Cistus creticus ssp. creticus, Cistus monspeliensis, Lavandula stoechas, Mentha aquatica, Mentha longifolia, Origanum vulgare, Phlomis cretica, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia sclarea, Satureja parnassica, Satureja thymbra, Sideritis euboea, Sideritis syriaca, Stachys spinosa, and Thymus longicaulis were determined against eight oral bacteria and fungus Candida albicans. Microtiter plate test was conducted to evaluate the antibiofilm activity against Streptococcus mutans.ResultsOverall, all tested extracts efficiently suppressed the growth of obligate anaerobic bacteria. When applied at concentrations ≥0.15 mg/ml, the extracts exhibited moderate to high antibiofilm activity comparable to that of chlorhexidine (CHX) against S. mutans. Interestingly, R. officinalis (MIC: 0.01–0.06 mg/ml) and O. vulgare (MIC: 0.04–1.25 mg/ml) demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity against oral bacteria. Additionally, R. officinalis and L. stoechas significantly inhibited S. mutans biofilm formation at 0.15 mg/ml.ConclusionsThe tested plant extracts can be considered as alternative natural antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents.Clinical relevanceMediterranean herb extracts show promise as natural alternatives to combat oral bacteria and biofilm formation, offering potential new therapies for infectious oral diseases in the context of antibiotic resistance.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2024.1469174/fullMediterranean herbnatural extractoral diseaseantimicrobial activitybiofilm
spellingShingle Joachim Hickl
Aikaterini Argyropoulou
Ali Al-Ahmad
Elmar Hellwig
Alexios Leandros Skaltsounis
Annette Wittmer
Kirstin Vach
Lamprini Karygianni
Unleashing nature's defense: potent antimicrobial power of plant extracts against oral pathogens and Streptococcus mutans biofilms
Frontiers in Oral Health
Mediterranean herb
natural extract
oral disease
antimicrobial activity
biofilm
title Unleashing nature's defense: potent antimicrobial power of plant extracts against oral pathogens and Streptococcus mutans biofilms
title_full Unleashing nature's defense: potent antimicrobial power of plant extracts against oral pathogens and Streptococcus mutans biofilms
title_fullStr Unleashing nature's defense: potent antimicrobial power of plant extracts against oral pathogens and Streptococcus mutans biofilms
title_full_unstemmed Unleashing nature's defense: potent antimicrobial power of plant extracts against oral pathogens and Streptococcus mutans biofilms
title_short Unleashing nature's defense: potent antimicrobial power of plant extracts against oral pathogens and Streptococcus mutans biofilms
title_sort unleashing nature s defense potent antimicrobial power of plant extracts against oral pathogens and streptococcus mutans biofilms
topic Mediterranean herb
natural extract
oral disease
antimicrobial activity
biofilm
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2024.1469174/full
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