Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity and compressive strength of a dental cement modified using plant extract mixture

Abstract

Literature lacks sufficient data regarding addition of natural antibacterial agents to glass ionomer cement (GICs). Hence, the aim of the study was to increase the antimicrobial properties of GICs through its modification with mixture of plant extracts to be evaluated along with an 0.5% chlorohexidine-modified GIC (CHX-GIC) with regard to biological and compressive strength properties. Conventional GIC (freeze-dried version) and CHX were used. Alcoholic extract of Salvadora persica, Olea europaea, and Ficus carcia leaves were prepared using a Soxhlet extractor for 12 h. The plant extract mixture (PE) was added in three different proportions to the water used for preparation of the dental cement (Group 1:1 PE, 2:1 PE, and 1:2 PE). Specimens were then prepared and tested against the unmodified GIC (control) and the 0.5% CHX-GIC. Chemical analysis of the extract mixture was performed using Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using agar diffusion assay against Micrococcus luteus and Streptoccocus mutans. Compressive strength was evaluated according to ISO 9917-1:2007 using a Zwick testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Antimicrobial activity against Streptoccocus mutans was significantly increased for all the extract-modified materials compared to the unmodified cement, and the highest concentration was comparable to the CHX-GIC mixture. The activity against Micrococcus luteus was also significantly increased, but only for the material with the highest extract concentration, and here the CHX-GIC group showed statistically the highest antimicrobial activity. Compressive strength results revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the different mixtures and the control except for the highest tested concentration that showed the highest mean values. The plant extracts (PEs) enhanced the antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and also against M. luteus in the higher concentration while compressive strength was improved by addition of the PE at higher concentrations.

Shear Bond Strength and Film Thickness of a Naturally Antimicrobial Modified Dental Luting Cement

“…GIC modified with S. persica , F. carcia, and O. eoropaea extract mixtures has shown significant antimicrobial activity against S. mutans before, which is the main causative organism of dental caries and M. luteus , which is a sensitive marker to the release of antimicrobial agents [ 28 ]; thus, this study aimed to assess two important clinical properties of GIC, which are shear bond strength and film thickness.…”

“…On the other hand, the CHX-GIC group showed statistically significant lower median values compared to all the plant-modified groups (1:2, 1:1, 2:1). The reason for this could be due to the presence of Cinnamic and bornyl acetic carboxylic acids in the plant extract mixture [ 28 ]. According to Prentice et al [41, those carboxylic acids might have been existed in a considerable amount that improved release of ions from the surface of the glass ionomer powder through lowering the pH.…”

“…In earlier study, an extract mixture of S. persica, F. carcia, and O. europaea incorporated in a conventional GIC showed a significant antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Micrococcus luteus . Moreover, the chemical characterization of the extract mixture using GC/MS has shown many chemically active compounds, including phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, carboxylic acids, terpenes, and more [ 28 ].Despite the recommendations for the use of these herbal plant extracts, there are only a few available studies that involve the addition of natural herbal extracts to GIC. Additionally, the antimicrobial effects were the focal point of these studies, while the physical-mechanical properties have been overlooked.…”

Salvadora persica’s Biological Properties and Applications in Different Dental Specialties: A Narrative Review

“…The results revealed that the plant extracts enhanced the antimicrobial activity, especially against S. mutans . Meanwhile, the compressive strength was improved by the addition of the plant extracts in higher concentrations [ 51 ]. The inhibitory effect of S. persica on the collagen degradation of a demineralized dentin lesion was also studied.…”

Antibiotic-free antimicrobial poly (methyl methacrylate) bone cements: A state-of-the-art review

“…Examples of materials that could be added to the powder of a plain cement are a quorum-sensing inhibitor drug[ 113 ], Ti-doped ZnO[ 114 ], nano-GO nanosheets[ 115 ], selenium nanoparticles[ 116 ], Ag-nanoparticle-reduced GO nanocomposite[ 117 ], chitosan hybrid nanoparticles[ 118 ], a Cu cluster molecule[ 119 ], powder prepared from extract from a Tunisian lichen[ 120 ], Yb-doped ZnO nanoparticles[ 121 ], and an analog of PKZ18 (PKZ18-22), a molecule that has been shown to block growth of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus in biofilm[ 122 ]. Examples of materials that could be added to the liquid of a plain cement are benzothiazole or one of its derivatives[ 123 , 124 ] and a natural antimicrobial agent (such as extract of Salvadora persica , Olea europaea , and Ficus carcia leaves[ 125 ] or biosynthesized ZnO nanoflowers[ 126 ]).…”