title: Assessment of antifungal activity of herbal and conventional toothpastes against clinical isolates of Candida albicans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the anticandidal activity of nine toothpastes containing sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate and herbal extracts as an active ingredients against 45 oral and non oral Candida albicans (C. albicans) isolates.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antifungal activity of these toothpaste formulations was determined using a standard agar well diffusion method. Statistical analysis was performed using a statistical package, SPSS windows version 15, by applying mean values using one-way ANOVA with post-hoc least square differences (LSD) method. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All toothpastes studied in our experiments were effective in inhibiting the growth of all C. albicans isolates. The highest anticandidal activity was obtained from toothpaste that containing both herbal extracts and sodium fluoride as active ingredients, while the lowest activity was obtained from toothpaste containing sodium monofluorophosphate as an active ingredient. Antifungal activity of Parodontax toothpaste showed a significant difference (P< 0.001) against C. albicans isolates compared to toothpastes containing sodium fluoride or herbal products.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, it has been demonstrated that toothpaste containing both herbal extracts and sodium fluoride as active ingredients are more effective in control of C. albicans, while toothpaste that containing monofluorophosphate as an active ingredient is less effective against C. albicans. Some herbal toothpaste formulations studied in our experiments, appear to be equally effective as the fluoride dental formulations and it can be used as an alternative to conventional formulations for individuals who have an interest in naturally-based products. Our results may provide invaluable information for dental professionals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, An-Najah N. University, P. O. Box (7)-Nablus, Palestine.
authors.forename: Ghaleb
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adwan
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Salameh
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adwan
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barakat
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010710:Phosphates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014100:Toothpastes; C012980:fluorophosphate; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D005459:Fluorides
keywords: Anticandidal activity; Candida albicans; Conventional toothpaste; Fluoride; Herbal toothpaste; Herbel extract; Oral cavity; Plaque; Sodium fluoride; Sodium monofluorophosphate