title: Antimicrobial activity of seven essential oils from Iranian aromatic plants against common causes of oral infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the past two decades, there has been a growing trend in using oral hygienic products originating from natural resources such as essential oils (EOs) and plant extracts. Seven aromatic plants used in this study are among popular traditional Iranian medicinal plants with potential application in modern medicine as anti-oral infectious diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of essential oils from seven medicinal plants against pathogens causing oral infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  The chemical compositions of EOs distilled from seven plants were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). These plants included Satureja khuzestanica, S. bachtiarica, Ocimum sanctum, Artemisia sieberi, Zataria multiflora, Carum copticum and Oliveria decumbens. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was evaluated by broth micro-dilution in 96 well plates as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tested EOs inhibited the growth of examined oral pathogens at concentrations of 0.015-16 µL/mL. Among the examined oral pathogens, Enterococcus faecalis had the highest Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and Minimum Microbicidal Concentrations (MMCs). Of the examined EOs, S. khuzestanica, Z. multiflora and S. bachtiarica, showed the highest antimicrobial activities, respectively, while Artemisia sieberi exhibited the lowest antimicrobial activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The excellent antimicrobial activities of the tested EOs might be due to their major phenolic or alcoholic monoterpenes with known antimicrobial activities. Hence, these EOs can be possibly used as an antimicrobial agent in treatment and control of oral pathogens.
authors: Basic Sciences in Infectious Disease Research Center, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Kamiar
authors: K
authors: Zomorodian
authors: Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Pooria
authors: P
authors: Ghadiri
authors: Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Mohammad Jamal
authors: MJ
authors: Saharkhiz
authors: Department of Pharmacognos, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Moein
authors: Florida Institute for Advanced Dental Education, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors: Peiman
authors: P
authors: Mehriar
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Farideh
authors: F
authors: Bahrani
authors: Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Tahereh
authors: T
authors: Golzar
authors: Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Keyvan
authors: K
authors: Pakshir
authors: Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Mohammad Mehdi
authors: MM
authors: Fani
keywords: Essential Oil; Medicinal Plants; infections