title: The antibacterial effect of sage extract (Salvia officinalis) mouthwash against Streptococcus mutans in dental plaque: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical effects of a mouthwash containing Sage (Salvia officinalis) extracts on Streptococcus mutans (SM) causing dental plaque in school-aged children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double blind clinical trial study was conducted in a dormitory on 70 girls aged 11-14 years having the same socioeconomic and oral hygiene conditions. These students were randomly divided into 2 groups; the first group (N=35) using Sage mouthwash, and the second group (N=35) using placebo mouthwash without active any ingredients. At the baseline, plaque samples obtained from the buccal surfaces of teeth were sent to laboratory to achieve SM colony count. These tests were reevaluated after 21 days of using the mouthwashes. Statistical data analysis was performed using t-student tests with p<0.05 as the level of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sage mouthwash significantly reduced the colony count (P=0.001). Average number of colonies in test group was 3900 per plaque sample at the baseline, and 300 after mouthwash application. In the control group, pre-test colony count was 4400 that was reduced to 4000; although this reduction wasn't significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Sage mouthwash effectively reduced the number of Streptococcus mutans in dental plaque.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beheshti-Rouy
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, International Branch of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohadese
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azarsina
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Loghman
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rezaie-Soufi
authors.affiliation: Mohammad-Yousef Alikhani: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Yousef
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Alikhani
authors.affiliation: Ghodratollah Roshanaie: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ghodratollah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roshanaie
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komaki
keywords: Salvia officinalis; Streptococcus mutans; anti-bacterial agents; dental plaque