Activity of Sugar-free Herbal Lollipops against Periodontal Pathogens

Methods: Agar plates were inoculated with one of the following pathogens: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.), Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), Prevotella intermedia (P. intermedia), Tannerella forsythia (T. forsythia), or Treponema socranskii (T. socranskii).  Plates containing Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), belonging to the larger group MS, were used as controls.  Four wells were punched into each plate, 2 filled with dissolved sugar-free herbal lollipop and 2 filled with a sugar-free placebo lollipop.  The plates were incubated for no more than 48 hours and zones of inhibition were measured.  Three sets of trials were conducted.

Results: Inhibition was noted in the P. intermedia, P. gingivalis, and control S. mutans plates.  However, no inhibition was noted in the A.a., T. forsythia, or T. socranskii plates.  S. mutans demonstrated the largest zone of inhibition (5.5-7mm), followed by P. gingivalis (5-6mm), followed by P. intermedia (4.5-5mm).

Conclusions: Results suggest the sugar-free herbal lollipops may play a role in decreasing the levels of certain periodontal pathogens, along with levels of S. mutans, in the oral cavity.  More research, including clinical research, is needed to assess the efficacy of Glycyrrhizol A in reducing periodontal pathogens.