title: Comparison of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Triclosan- Containing, Herbal and Homeopathy Toothpastes- An Invitro Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Use of antimicrobial agents is one of the important strategies to prevent oral diseases. These agents vary in their abilities to deliver preventive and therapeutic benefits.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This invitro study was conducted to assess antimicrobial efficacy of different toothpastes against various oral pathogens.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of nine toothpastes in three groups were tested for their antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 0266P) and Candida albicans (Laboratory Strain) by modified agar well diffusion method. Statistical Analysis was performed using Minitab Software. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Triclosan-based dental formulation with combination of fluoride (1000ppm) exhibited higher antimicrobial activity against test organisms than the combination of lower fluoride-concentration or sodium monofluorophosphate. Among herbal dentifrices, formulation containing Neem, Pudina, Long, Babool, Turmeric and Vajradanti showed significant antimicrobial activity against all the four tested microorganisms (p<0.05). However, against Streptococcus mutans, all three herbal products showed significant antimicrobial activity. Homeo products showed least antimicrobial activity on the tested strains. Formulation with kreosotum, Plantago major and calendula was significantly effective only against Streptococcus mutans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, antimicrobial activity of the toothpaste containing both triclosan and fluoride (1000ppm) as active ingredients showed a significant difference (p< 0.05) against all four tested microflora compared to that of with lower fluoride-concentration or sodium monofluorophosphate. Of herbal groups, the only dentifrice containing several phytochemicals was found to be significantly effective and comparable to triclosan-fluoride (1000ppm) formulation. Thus, this herbal toothpaste can be used as alternative to triclosan-based formulations. However, these results might not be clinically useful unless tested invivo.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery , Vikarabad, India .
authors.forename: Basu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anushree
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery , Vikarabad, India .
authors.forename: Mohammed Alimullah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fawaz
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery , Vikarabad, India .
authors.forename: Rao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Narahari
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery , Vikarabad, India .
authors.forename: Tanveer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shahela
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Oral Pathology, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery , Vikarabad, India .
authors.forename: Afroz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Syed
keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial agents; Herbal toothpaste; Homeo toothpaste; Triclosan