Comparative in-vitro evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of herbal extracts versus chlorhexidine against oral Staphylococcus aureus isolates in smokers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53685/jshmdc.v7i1.454Keywords:
Antimicrobial efficacy, Chlorhexidine, Herbal Products, Smoking, Staphylococcus aureusAbstract
Background: Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic oral pathogen that can colonize in smokers due to alterations in the oral microbiome.
Objective: To assess and compare the antimicrobial effectiveness of herbal extracts (Azadirachta indica (neem), Syzygium aromaticum (clove oil), Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi), and Camellia sinensis (green tea)) versus chlorhexidine against Staphylococcus aureus in smokers.
Methods: This in vitro experimental study was conducted at Azra Naheed Medical and Dental College from December 2025 to March 2026 on 100 adult smokers. Dental plaque samples were collected from 100 adult smokers, from which Staphylococcus aureus isolates were obtained and tested. Herbal extracts of Azadirachta indica (neem), Syzygium aromaticum (clove oil), Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi), and Camellia sinensis (green tea) were prepared using ethanol extraction and compared for antimicrobial activity using the agar well diffusion method. Chlorhexidine (0.2%) was used as a control. Mean inhibition zones were compared with one-way-ANOVA.
Results: Chlorhexidine showed the largest inhibition zone (24.70±3.57), followed by clove oil (19.40±4.11), green tea (14.10±3.92), Tulsi (15.30±3.25), and Neem showed the smallest zone (12.01±2.58mm) (p<0.001). There was a significant difference in mean inhibition zones between chlorhexidine and clove (p<0.001), whereas no significant difference was observed between green tea and Tulsi (p=0.116). An inverse correlation was observed between the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the zone of inhibition for green tea (r=−0.213, p=0.033), but no significant correlation was observed with chlorhexidine (r=0.029, p=0.778).
Conclusion: Chlorhexidine demonstrated the greatest antimicrobial efficacy against oral S. aureus isolates from smokers, followed by clove oil, green tea, Tulsi, and neem. Further optimization of herbal agent concentrations may enhance their clinical applicability.
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