title: Antibacterial Effect of Aloe Vera Gel against Oral Pathogens: An In-vitro Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Natural herbal remedies have shown promising anti-microbial property and fewer side effects compared to synthetic anti-microbial therapy. Aloe Vera is a medicinal plant used for management of various infections since ancient times as it has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and immune-boosting properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-microbial and inhibitory activities of various concentration of Aloe Vera Gel (AVG) against oral pathogenic bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subgingival calculus and aspiration of periapical abscess and periodontal abscess was done in 20 patients and the sample transferred to thioglycolate broth, which was incubated in Mutans Sanguis agar, blood agar and cultured in anaerobic gas chamber. The colonies formed were identified further by gram staining methods and biochemical fermentation tests (IMViC). Each isolated colony of identified bacteria were cultured separately in Muller-Hilton broth and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. Anti-microbial activity of the AVG was tested by the disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by broth micro-dilution method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Various staining and biochemical tests confirmed that the sample containedActinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans(A. actinomycetemcomitans),Clostridium bacilli(C. bacilli),Streptcoccus mutans(S. mutans) andStaphlococcus aureus(Staph. aureus). AVG showed anti-bacterial property at 100% and 50% concentration ('t' value = 7.504, p-value <0.001). At lower concentration there was no effect against the bacteria. At 100% AVG concentration, zone of inhibition measured was 6.9mm inA. actinomycetemcomitans, 6.3mm inC. bacilli, 6.8mm inS. mutansand 6.6mm inStaph. aureus. The standard drugs were also used to compare anti-bacterial property of AVG. Result showed that higher concentration (100%, 50%) of AVG has comparable zone of inhibition with Ofloxacin (5mcg) and Ciprofloxacin (30mcg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AVG at higher concentration showed anti-bacterial property and can be used as a promising adjunct for oral health care.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, New Horizon Dental College and Research Institute , Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India .
authors.forename: Supreet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Chandulal Memorial Medical College , Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India .
authors.forename: Nirav
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rathod
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, New Horizon Dental College and Research Institute , Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India .
authors.forename: Ravleen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagi
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Rungta College of Dental Sciences and Research , Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India .
authors.forename: Jaideep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sur
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Daswani Dental College , Kota, Rajasthan, India .
authors.forename: Afshan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laheji
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, New Horizon Dental College and Research Institute , Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India .
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Consultant, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Shradha and Jai Ambe Hospital , Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India .
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Rungta College of Dental Sciences and Research , Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India .
authors.forename: Swati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prasad
keywords: Anti-microbial; Culture; Herbal