Scientific Article Review:

Efficacy of Specific Plant Products on Microorganisms Causing Dental Caries

Published In: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Publication Year: 2016

Study Design

This study is an in vitro experiment focused on evaluating the antimicrobial efficacy of various plant products against microorganisms associated with dental caries.

Funding Sources

The study declares no financial or competing interests.

PICO Framework - what was studied and how?

Population
Microorganisms isolated from dental caries samples.

Intervention
Application of plant-based extracts and essential oils (e.g., clove oil, neem, turmeric, tea tree oil).

Comparison
Control group using a ciprofloxacin disc as the antimicrobial standard.

Outcomes
Zones of inhibition (in millimeters) measured to determine antimicrobial effectiveness.

In Paragraph Form
This study evaluated the antimicrobial properties of ten naturally derived plant products, including clove oil, neem, turmeric, and tea tree oil, against microorganisms collected from dental caries samples. The intervention's effectiveness was compared to ciprofloxacin, with outcomes measured as zones of inhibition around discs infused with the plant extracts.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Microorganisms isolated from extracted carious teeth.
• Plant products processed into decoctions or used as essential oils.

Exclusion Criteria

• Non-cariogenic microorganisms.
• Non-standard preparation of plant extracts.

Study Demographics and Groups

The study tested ten plant products using nutrient agar and aerobic culture methods. Each product was tested in triplicate for reliability. No human participants were directly involved.

Primary Outcome Variables and Results

Outcome: Zones of Inhibition (mm)

• Clove Oil: 30mm (highest efficacy)
• Ginger-Garlic Paste: 25mm
• Neem and Tea Tree Oil: 15mm each
• Turmeric and Eucalyptus Oil: No measurable inhibition

Key Statistical Findings
Larger zones of inhibition indicate greater antimicrobial potency. Clove oil significantly outperformed all other extracts, suggesting it has the strongest antimicrobial activity among the tested plant products.

Study Conclusions

The study concludes that plant-based products, particularly clove oil, exhibit significant antimicrobial activity against microorganisms causing dental caries. These findings suggest the potential for integrating such natural products into oral hygiene products, such as toothpastes and mouth rinses.

Discussion

Strengths

• Focus on natural alternatives to chemical antimicrobials.
• Provides clear comparative results using standardized in vitro methods.

Limitations

• Lack of in vivo testing in actual oral environments.
• Limited scope of microorganisms tested.
• No evaluation of long-term or synergistic effects.

Citation

M. Rajini Kanth et al. (2016). Efficacy of Specific Plant Products on Microorganisms Causing Dental Caries. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2016 Dec;10(12):ZM01-ZM03. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

Visual Aids

Chart: Zones of Inhibition