Efficacy of guaco mouthwashes (Mikania glomerata and Mikania laevigata) on the disinfection of toothbrushes

Abstract

Guaco Mikania glomerata Spreng. and M. laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Baker, Asteraceae, has antimicrobial activity and may be helpful in reducing the incidence of oral diseases. This double-blinded randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effi cacy of guaco mouthwashes on the disinfection of toothbrushes used by preschool children, tested positive for mutans streptococci (MS), as well as the quantifi cation of its coumarin contents by high performance liquid chromatography. Ethanol extracts were obtained by percolation. The mouthwashes were prepared with 2.5% g/mL M. glomerata and M. laevigata ethanol extracts, standardized for their coumarin content (% mg/mg). Antimicrobial effect of the mouthwashes and extracts were assessed in vitro against Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175™), using 2.4 to 500 µg/mL to calculate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). For the in vivo study, 24 patients were randomly assigned to a 4-stage changeover system with a one-week interval between each stage. All solutions were used in all stages by a different group of children. After brushing without toothpaste, toothbrushes (n=96) were sprayed with water and solutions of M. glomerata (2.5%), M. laevigata (2.5%) and chlorhexidine (0.12%). Microbiological analysis was carried out after 4 h and 30 days, respectively. MIC values were 400, 125 and 14 µg/mL, respectively, for both crude ethanol extracts, mouthwashes of M. glomerata and M. laevigata. Statistical analysis showed that all solutions decreased contamination of toothbrushes by mutans streptococci (chlorhexidine 50.7±17.7%; M. glomerata 37.3±23.7% and M. laevigata 28.7±25.1% of inhibition). Treatment with chlorhexidine and M. glomerata were statistically similar (p>0.05). M. glomerata mouthwash could be useful in herbal strategy programs against mutans streptococci and the marker coumarin may be not related to the activity observed.

Stability and disinfecting proprieties of the toothbrush rinse of the essential oil of Protium heptaphyllum

“…Batista et al (2014) reported the use of mouthwashes of chamomile and pomegranate extracts and suggested that both extracts have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. In a recent study conducted by our group (Lessa et al, 2012), a mouthwash known as guaco was prepared with ethanolic extracts of Mikania laevigata and Mikania glomerata. It showed antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and was evaluated as a toothbrush sanitiser; mouthwash prepared with M. glomerata had the same efficacy as the mouthwash with chlorhexidine 0.12% (gold standard).…”

“…The standard strain used was ATCC 25175 ™ S. mutans. We performed a serial dilution of the toothbrush rinse with a concentration range of 100 to 0.01 µg/ml to calculate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (Lessa et al, 2012). In total, 100 μl bacitracin sucrose broth (SB20), a selective enrichment broth (Davey and Rogers, 1984), 100 μl of the inoculum and 50 μl of the test solution were added to each well.…”

“…The inclusion criteria were that children should have mutans streptococci in their saliva. The presence of mutans streptococci in children was identified using the kit Dentocult® SM Strip mutans (Orion Diagnostica Oy, Espoo, Finland), which is specific for confirming the identity of this group of microorganisms in saliva (Lessa et al, 2012). Children were randomly assigned to one of three groups, using a table of random numbers.…”

“…The children were subjected to tooth brushing, which was performed by a single professional without dentifrice in a position suggested by Starkey (1961), always following the same sequence. The brushing time was one minute, and time was kept with a standardised digital stopwatch (Lessa et al, 2012). After brushing, the toothbrushes were carefully rinsed in tap water, and the excess water was removed from the bristles by slightly beating the handle of the toothbrush against the edge of the sink.…”

“…Then the practitioner suspended the toothbrushes in a vertical position with the head facing up and at a distance of, at most, 5 cm between the brush head and the bottle. Each solution was sprayed on the bristles five times, totalling approximately 0.5 ml per toothbrush (Lessa et al, 2012).…”