Antifungal and antibacterial activities of polyherbal toothpaste against oral pathogens, in vitro

Background and Herbal toothpastes are more secure and efficacious and less poisonous due to containing natural chemicals as compared with the synthetic toothpastes. The present study aimed to formulate a polyherbal toothpaste using accessible medicinal plants in Iran and evaluate its efficiency in the protection of oral hygiene and prevention of dental caries. The developed toothpaste was made of the leaf extracts of Artemisia dracunculus, Satureja khuzestanica (Jamzad), and Myrtus communis (Linn), combined at four different dilutions, namely 1:4 (25%), 1:1 (50%), 3:4 (75%), and (100%), with sterile distilled water. The product was tested against five microorganisms, including Streptococcus mutans, Lactobaccilus caseie, S. sanguis, S. salivarius, and Candida albicans, using agar well diffusion method. After 24 h of incubation, the maximum mean diameters of inhibition zone against L. caseie and C. albicans were obtained as 17-30 and 10-25 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the minimum mean diameter of inhibition zone against S. salivarious was estimated as 15-20 mm. The formulated toothpaste showed potent inhibitory activities against Gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans. Therefore, more studies are required to accurately investigate the efficacy of the formulated toothpaste