Citation Information :
Malvania EA, Sharma AS, Sheth SA, Chovatia NR, Kachwala MS. In Vitro Analysis of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Root Extract Activity on Streptococcus mutans in Comparison to Chlorhexidine and Fluoride Mouthwash. J Contemp Dent Pract 2019; 20 (12):1389-1394.
Aim: The present study was done to determine the activity of licorice root extract on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) in comparison to chlorhexidine and fluoride mouthwash.
Materials and methods: In the current study, the different concentrations of aqueous and ethanolic licorice root extract were subjected to microbiological assay and zone of inhibition was determined against S. mutans by agar ditch method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of aqueous and ethanolic solution was obtained by using broth dilution method and agar dilution method. Chlorhexidine and fluoride mouthwash were kept as a positive control in the present study. One-way ANOVA along with Tukey post hoc test were used at 5% level of significance to analyze data.
Results: Mean zone of inhibition of chlorhexidine mouthwash, fluoride mouthwash, aqueous and ethanolic licorice root extracts against S. mutans at 24 hours were 23 mm, 14.2 mm, 15.8 mm and 22.4 mm, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration of aqueous and ethanolic licorice root extract on S. mutans was 20 mg/mL and 12.5 mg/mL, respectively by both broth dilution method and agar dilution method.
Conclusion: The antibacterial effect produced by ethanolic licorice root extract on S. mutans was comparable to chlorhexidine mouthwash while significantly higher in comparison with aqueous form and fluoride mouthwash.
Clinical significance: The interest in the plants with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity has increased now days to treat various dental diseases as consequences of current problems associated with the conventional agents. Licorice root is easily available, economically feasible and culturally acceptable and may possess minimal side effects as compared to conventional means of chemicotherapeutic agents used for reduction of S. mutans in oral cavity and hence can be recommended for prevention of dental caries.
Kavya R. Glycyrrhiza glabra – an ayurvedic medicine in dentistry. Res J Pharm Technol 2018;7(7):821–822.
Eley BM. Antibacterial agents in the control of supragingival plaque-A review. Br Dent J 1999;186(6):286–296. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj. 4800090.
Lingaraj S, Battur H, Shamarao S, et al. Effects of aqueous and alcoholic licorice root extract against S. mutans and L. acidophilus in comparison to chlorhexidine: an in vitro study. J Int Oral Health 2014;6(4):29–34.
Hiregoudar M, Subramaniam R, Mittal S, et al. Antibacterial activity of some spice extract on Streptococcus mutans: an in vitro study. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2011;17(1):336–340.
Kumar D, Sidhu P. The antimicrobial activity of Azardirachta indica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, cinnamum zaylaicum, syzygium aromaticum, acacia nilotica on Streptococcus mutans and enterococcus feacalis: an in vitro study. Int Endod J 2012;7:18–25.
Isbrucker RA, Burdock GA. Risk and safety assessment on the consumption of licorice root, it's extract and powder as a food ingredient, with emphasis on the pharmacology and toxicity of licorice. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2006;46(3):167–192. DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2006.06.002.
Sedighinia F, Safipour A, Ghazvini K. Antibacterial activity of Glacyrrhiza glabra against oral pathogens: an in vitro study. Avicenna J Phytomed 2012;2(3):118–124.
Messier C, Epifano F, Genovese S, et al. Licorice and its potential beneficial effects in common oro-dental diseases. Oral Dis 2012;18(1):32–39. DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2011.01842.x.
Korhalkar A, Deshpande M, Lele P, et al. Pharmacological studies of Yasthimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) in various animal models-a review. Global J Res Med Plants Indigen Med 2013;2(3):152–164.
Prusti A, Misha SR, Sahoo S, et al. Antibacterial activity of some Indian medicinal plants. Ethnobotanical Leaf 2008;12:227–233.
CLSI. Performance standards for antimicrobial disk susceptibility test. Approved standard M02-A, Wayne, PA: CLSI. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 10th ed., vol. 29; 2009. p. 1.
Singh J, Kumar A, Budhiraja S, et al. Ethnomedicine: use in dental caries. Braz J Oral Sci 2007;6:1308–1312.
Korhalkar A, Deshpande M, Lele P, et al. Antimicrobial activity Of Yasthimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.): a review. Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci 2014;3(1):329–336.
Geetha RV, Roy A. In vitro evaluation of antimycotic activity of ethanolic extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra. Asian J Pharm Clin Res 2013;6(3):205–207.
Asl MN, Hosseinzadeh H. Review of pharmacological effects of Glycyrrhiza sp and its bio active compounds. Phytother Res 2008;22(6):709–724. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2362.
Pallavi SK. Effect of chlorhexidine on mutans streptococci and dental caries. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2011;17:678–683.
Jenkins GN. Review of fluoride research since 1959. Arch Oral Biol 1999;44(12):985–992. DOI: 10.1016/S0003-9969(99)00110-7.
Hiremath SS. Textbook of public health dentistry, 3rd ed. New Delhi: Elsevier; 2016. ch. 36: Flourides. pp. 314–315.
Megalaa N, Thirumurugan K, Kayalvizhi G, et al. A comparative evaluation of the anticaries efficacy of herbal extracts (Tulsi and Black myrobalans) and sodium fluoride as mouthrinses in children: a randomized controlled trial. Indian J Dent Res 2018;29(6):760–767. DOI: 10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_790_16.
Asl Aminabadi N, Balaei E, Pouralibaba F. The effect of 0.2% sodium fluoride mouthwash in prevention of dental caries according to the DMFT index. J Dent Res Dent Clin Dent Prospects 2007;1(2):71–76. DOI: 10.5681/joddd.2007.012.
Kulkarni VV, Damle SG. Comparative evaluation of efficacy of sodium fluoride, chlorhexidine and triclosan mouth rinses in reducing the mutans streptococci count in saliva: an in vivo study. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2003;21(3):98–104.
Neko-Uwagawa Y, Yoshihara A, Miyazaki H. Long-term caries preventive effects of a school-based fluoride mouth rinse program in adulthood. Open Dent J 2011;5:24–28. DOI: 10.2174/1874210601105010024.
Ahn SJ, Park SN, Lee YJ, et al. In vitro antimicrobial activities of 1-methoxyficifolinol, licorisoflavan A, and 6,8-diprenylgenistein against Streptococcus mutans. Caries Res 2015;49(1):78–89. DOI: 10.1159/000362676.
Segal R, Pisanty S, Wormser R, et al. Anticariogenic activity of licorice and glycyrrhizine I: inhibition of in vitro plaque formation by Streptococcus mutans. J Pharm Sci 1985;74(1):79–81. DOI: 10.1002/jps.2600740121.
Hu CH, He J, Eckert R, et al. Development and evaluation of a safe and effective sugar-free herbal lollipop that kills cavity-causing bacteria. Int J Oral Sci 2011;3(1):13–20. DOI: 10.4248/IJOS11005.
Jain E, Pandey RK, Khanna R. Licorice root extracts as potent cariostatic agents in pediatric practice. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2013;31(3):146–152. DOI: 10.4103/0970-4388.117964.
