title: In vitro antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of Morus alba leaf against periodontal pathogens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antibiotic resistance is a major problem with inadvertent usage. Thus, there is a need to search for new antimicrobial agents of herbal origin to combat antibiotic resistance. One such plant is Morus alba which has a long history of medicinal use in traditional Chinese medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of M. alba leaves with chlorhexidine gluconate against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Tannerella forsythia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental in vitro study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crude extract from the leaves of M. alba were prepared by Soxhlet extraction method by using ethanol as a solvent. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract was assessed against A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and T. forsythia, and compared with that of chlorhexidine gluconate by broth dilution method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  P. gingivalis was the most sensitive organism against the M. alba extract with an MIC value of 1.95 mg/ml; while T. forsythia and P. gingivalis both were most sensitive organisms against chlorhexidine gluconate with MIC values of 0.00781 mg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  M. alba possess good antibacterial activity against A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and T. forsythia and thus would be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. However, chlorhexidine gluconate was found to be more effective when compared to M. alba.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE University, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunjal
authors.forename: Anil V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ankola
authors.forename: Kishore
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bhat
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol