Effectiveness of a 20% Miswak extract against a mixture of Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the in vitro antimicrobial effect of a 20% Miswak extract against a mixture of Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) using the dilution tube susceptibility test, which allows direct contact between the tested material and the microorganisms.


METHODS
The study samples were collected and processed between August 2009 and January 2010 in the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Each microorganism was obtained in a suspension and exposed to a 20% Miswak extract in plastic tissue culture clusters containing 24 wells. Six wells were used per group. The Miswak extract was incubated with the microorganisms for one, 6, and 24 hours.


RESULTS
This in vitro study showed that Miswak extract was an effective antifungal and antibacterial agent at all tested experimental time periods, except one hour exposure of a 20% Miswak extract to E. faecalis and a mixture of E. faecalis and C. albicans, which was ineffective in inhibiting their growth.


CONCLUSIONS
Twenty percent Miswak extract is an effective antifungal and antibacterial agent against C. albicans and E. faecalis.
Al-Obaida
Mohammad I
MI
Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, PO Box 60169, Riyadh 11545, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. malobaida@ksu.edu.sa
Al-Essa
Mohamed A
MA
Asiri
Abdulaziz A
AA
Al-Rahla
Ali A
AA
D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
D010936:Plant Extracts