title: Evaluation of holy basil mouthwash as an adjunctive plaque control agent in a four day plaque regrowth model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Various antibacterial and antiplaque agents are used in chemical plaque control but none are without their shortcomings. Chlorhexidine considered a gold standard, also has an array of side effects. To overcome these, numerous herbal extracts have been tried and tested and one among them is holy basil. The present study evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of holy basil in vitro against some periodontopathogens and its antiplaque effect in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty periodontally healthy volunteers were randomly divided into three groups and refrained from all mechanical oral hygiene measures for 4 days and used one of the randomly assigned mouthwash (1- chlorhexidine; 2- holy basil; and 3- sterile water [placebo]) twice daily. The Plaque Index (PI) was assessed at days 0 and 5. Aqueous extract of holy basil was tested against Prevotella intermedia (P. intermedia) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (F.nucleatum).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Holy basil extract showed inhibition of both the tested periodontopathogens (P.intermedia and F.nucleatum) at various concentrations. In all groups, the PI increased from baseline to day 5. There was a statistically significant difference (p < .05) between the chlorhexidine and placebo rinse and the holy basil and placebo rinse, but no statistically significant difference was found between the chlorhexidine and holy basil rinse with respect to PI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the holy basil mouthwash has an antiplaque effect and is efficacious against P. intermedia and F. nucleatum strains in vitro. Hence holy basil mouthwash may have potential as an antiplaque mouthwash with prophylactic benefits. Key words:Antibacterial agent, basil, Fusobacterium nucleatum, mouthwashes, Prevotella intermedia.
authors: Graduate student. Department of Periodontics, S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
authors: Manasa
authors: M
authors: Hosamane
authors: Professor. Department of Periodontics, S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
authors: Anirudh B
authors: AB
authors: Acharya
authors: Undergraduate student. Department of Periodontics, S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
authors: Chhavi
authors: C
authors: Vij
authors: Professor and Head. Department of Biochemistry, S.D.M. College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
authors: Dhiraj
authors: D
authors: Trivedi
authors: Professor and Head. Department of Periodontics, S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
authors: Swati B
authors: SB
authors: Setty
authors: Principal and Professor. Department of Periodontics, S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
authors: Srinath L
authors: SL
authors: Thakur