A Survey on the Antibacterial Effects of Mouthwash Cetylpyridinium Chloride and Alcoholic Extract of Melissa officinalis L. on Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis

Streptococcus sanguinis and mutans are dental infections agents. Due to the adverse effects of chemical mouthwashes, the aim of the present study was to determine the antibacterial effects of cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash and alcoholic extracts of Melissa officinalis plant on the growth of these bacteria.
In this laboratory study, M. officinalis leaves were collected and extracted using percolation method. Well diffusion method and determination of minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations were used for the antibacterial effects determination of alcoholic extracts of the plant and mouthwash in the concentrations of 250, 125, 62.5, 31.25, 15.62, 7.81, 3.9, 1.95, 0.97 and 0.48 mg/ml. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
The most antibacterial effect of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of M. officinalis and mouthwash on S. mutans and sanguinis was in the concentration of 250 mg/ml and the least inhibitory concentrations against S. mutans were 3.9, 31.25 and 15.26 and against S. sanguinis were 31.25, 15.62and 31.25 mg/ml, respectively. The minimum bactericidal concentrations of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of M. officinalis and mouthwash against S. mutans were 125, 62.5 and 31.25 and against S. sanguinis were 62.5, 31.5 and 62.5 mg/ml, respectively. There was a positive significant correlation between increasing concentration of extracts and inhibition of bacterial growth (p It seems that M. officinalis extract like mouthwash can be used as an oral and teeth antiseptic. However, in-vivo tests and proves that there is no harmful effects on the human body are essential for the production of this type of herbal mouthwash.