title: Evaluating the antimicrobial activity of commercially available herbal toothpastes on microorganisms associated with diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conducted to evaluate the effcacy of commercially available herbal toothpastes against the different periodontopathogens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six herbal toothpastes that were commonly commercially available were included in the study. Colgate herbal, Babool, Meswak, Neem active, Dabur red toothpastes were tested for the study whereas sterile normal saline was used as control. Antimicrobial effcacies of dentifrices were evaluated against Streptococcus mutans and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. The antimicrobial properties of dentifrices were tested by measuring the maximum zone of inhibition at 24 hours on the Mueller Hinton Agar media inoculated with microbial strain using disk diffusion method. Each dentifrice was tested at 100% concentration (full strength).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study showed that all dentifrices selected for the study were effective against the entire test organism but to varying degree. Neem active tooth paste gave a reading of 25.4 mm as the zone of inhibition which was highest amongst all of the test dentifrices. Colgate Herbal and Meswak dentifrices recorded a larger maximum zone of inhibition, measuring 23 and 22.6 mm respectively, compared to other toothpastes. All other dentifrices showed the zone of inhibition to be between 17 and 19 mm respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The antibacterial properties of six dentifrices were studied in vitro and concluded that almost all of the dentifrices available commercially had antibacterial properties to some extent to beneft dental health or antiplaque action.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of General Medicine, MES Medical College, Palachode, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Feroz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jenner
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of General Medicine, MES Medical College, Palachode, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: V Abdul
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Jaleel
authors.affiliation: Research Scholar, Department of Microbiology, MATS University Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India, e-mail: reena_2k5@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Reena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kulshrestha
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Meghna Institute of Dental Sciences, Nizamabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maheswar
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Periodontics, HSRSM Dental College and Hospital, Hingoli, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: P Krishna
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Professor, Consultant, Department of Periodontist, HSRSM Dental College and Hospital, Hingoli, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kranthi
mesh_terms: D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000187:drug effects*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031601:Azadirachta; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D020843:Chamomile; D045783:Clove Oil; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D032121:Salvadoraceae; D027543:Salvia officinalis; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D045783:Clove Oil; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; D014100:Toothpastes