Background: Various herbal extracts are known to provide therapeutic benefits in the oral cavity when used topically. One of these herbs is cardamom which is a dried fruit of the tall permanent herbaceous plant, have its place in the family Zingiberaceae. Objectives: Test the effect of green and black cardamom extracts on Lactobacilli in comparison to chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% and de-ionized water. Materials and methods: Dried fruits of green and black cardamom were extracted by using alcohol 70% ethanol. Saliva was collected from seven volunteers. Agar well technique with different concentrations of green and black cardamom extracts was used to test the sensitivities of Lactobacilli, as well the effects of both cardamom extracts on viable counts of Lactobacilli. Results: Lactobacilli were sensitive to different concentrations of green and black cardamom extracts starting with (5%) to (40%) using agar well diffusion technique. Both types of cardamom extracts green and black were effective in inhibition of Lactobacilli but still weaker than chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2%. Highly significant reduction in the counts of bacteria were reported with cardamom extracts and chlorhexidine in comparison to neutral control after two hrs.. Conclusions: Both types of cardamom (green and black) showed an effect on Lactobacilli but still less than chlorhexidine.
Background: Propolis has received great interest because of its wide range antimicrobial activity. Propolis also called (bee glue) due to its collection by (Apismellifera) honeybees from various plants resinous substance. The aim of this study was to determine the antibacterial effect of propolis extracts (aqueous and alcoholic) on anaerobic periodontal pathogen namely Aggregatibacteractinomycetemcomitans. Materials and Methods: Strains of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans wasisolated from pockets of systemically healthy patients aged between 35-55 years old suffering from chronic periodontitis with pocket depths of 5-6 mm, the bacteria cultured on special blood Agar plates solid media. Propolis was extracted by using water and alcohol. Agar well technique was used to study the sensitivity of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans to different concentrations of propolis extracts (70, 80, 90, 100, 125 and 150) mg/ml and other control agents (distilled water and chlorhexidine 0.2%). Results: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was sensitive to propolis extracts; alcoholic extract was more effective than aqueous extract.All concentrations of propolis extracts showed smaller inhibition zones than 0,2% CHX except 150 mg/ml concentration of aqueous extract ,(100, 125 and 150)mg/ml concentrations of alcoholic extract showed larger inhibition zones than 0,2% CHX. Conclusion: Propolis extracts were effective against anaerobic periodontal pathogens (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans).
Background: Recently it has been noticed that toxoplasmosis played an important role in distressing women’s pregnancy through certain outcomes such as congenital abnormalities and abortions. The lack in Vitamin D may play role fragility of bones like; osteoporosis, and bone deformities. Objective: To evaluate the association between the lake in vitamin D and toxoplasmosis seropositivity in the women’s sera in the age of childbearing by applying ELISA method. Materials and Methods: 56 women, from Central Public Health Laboratories in Baghdad Province were selected in this study, their age range between (17-45) years. The individuals were diagnosed with BOH (Bad Obstetric History). Among 56 women infected (44)or not infected (12)with toxoplasmosis blood samples were collected from patients who visited Central Public Health Laboratories in Baghdad Province . IgG and IgM Abs Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii were detected using minividas kit ) BioMerieux /France). Also vitamin D was detected using by ELISA microwells method (Monobind Inc. USA). Results: The results were considered as statistically significant (P=0.386), it shows no important difference between toxoplasmosis and the concentration of vitamin D3 in women with history of abortion or not. Conclusion: The toxoplasmosis rate in women in childbearing age was elevated, and the association between vitamin D deficiency and toxoplasmosis was not considerable.
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